A fugitive member of former President Yahya Jammeh’s hit squad, Lieutenant Sanna Manjang, has been arrested by Senegalese authorities.

Manjang was indicted by The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission for alleged involvement in killings, torture and other grave human rights abuses.

He fled The Gambia in 2017 after Jammeh went into exile following his refusal to accept defeat in the 2016 election. He is believed to have been based in neighbouring Guinea-Bissau and is also accused of plotting an attempted coup.

Gambia Armed Forces spokesman Major Malick Sanyang confirmed the arrest, saying there was “close collaboration” with Senegalese counterparts and that further details were being gathered.

The Gambian government has not yet released an official statement on the arrest.

By Adama Makasuba