The appeal trial of Ousman Sonko, former Interior Minister of The Gambia, will begin on 30 March 2026 before the Higher Appeals Chamber of the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland.

Sonko was convicted on 15 May 2024 of multiple counts of crimes against humanity committed between 2000 and 2016 during the rule of former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh, and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.

The ruling is now under appeal by the defence, the Swiss Office of the Attorney General and ten civil plaintiffs.

The case is historic, marking only the second crimes against humanity trial in Swiss judicial history and making Sonko the highest-ranking state official ever tried in Europe under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

The appeal proceedings will open at 9:30am on 30 March 2026, with hearings scheduled for 31 March–2 April, 7–10 April and 14–17 April. Additional reserve dates have been set for 20–24 April and 29–30 April.

The hearings will take place at the Federal Criminal Court, Viale Stefano Franscini 7, Bellinzona, in the Swiss canton of Ticino.