The Government of The Gambia has announced the dramatic capture of Sanna Manjang, one of the most notorious surviving members of Yahya Jammeh’s “Junglers” death squad, in a pre-dawn joint security operation with Senegal in the Casamance region.
In an official statement released this evening, the government confirmed that Manjang was apprehended in southern Senegal in the early hours of Friday morning after months of intensive intelligence-sharing between Banjul and Dakar.
“Sanna Manjang, a former member of the Junglers who has been implicated in serious human rights violations during the administration of former President Yahya Jammeh, was apprehended… This arrest is the result of a coordinated security operation between the authorities of the Republic of Senegal and The Gambia,” the statement read.
Manjang, who fled The Gambia in January 2017 shortly after Jammeh’s fall, is repeatedly named in the 2021 Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) report for his direct involvement in torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions carried out on orders of the former dictator.
His arrest marks one of the highest-profile captures of a Jungler still at large and is seen as a landmark moment in The Gambia’s decade-long quest to deliver justice for victims of the 22-year regime.
“The Government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to justice, accountability and the protection of the rights and security of all persons within The Gambia,” the statement continued, adding that arrangements are already underway for Manjang’s swift repatriation, where he will “be processed in accordance with the law.”
President Adama Barrow’s administration expressed “deep appreciation” to Senegal for its “continued cooperation and solidarity,” underscoring the strengthening security ties between the two neighbours.
Earlier on Sunday, Gambia Armed Forces Spokesman Major Malick Sanyang had confirmed Manjang was in custody but declined to give details, saying only that regional partners were involved and that a fuller statement would follow.
Victim support groups and human rights organizations welcomed the news. “This is the day many families have waited years for,” said one official of the Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations. “Sanna Manjang’s hands are stained with the blood of innocent Gambians. Seeing him face trial will bring long-overdue relief.”
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and patient as the legal process unfolds, promising further updates in the coming days.
Manjang’s extradition and eventual prosecution are expected to intensify calls for the trial of Yahya Jammeh himself, who remains in exile in Equatorial Guinea.
