Sanna Manjang
A magistrate court in Banjul has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Sanna Manjang, a former member of the Gambia Armed Forces who has long been accused of participating in extrajudicial killings during the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh.
The warrant was granted by Principal Magistrate Krubally after prosecutors, led by Assistant Superintendent E. Sarr, petitioned the court to authorize Manjang’s arrest. The request was prompted by a communication from Interpol Washington, the United States National Central Bureau, dated February 25, 2025, which sought confirmation on whether Manjang was still wanted in The Gambia and, if so, requested a copy of the arrest warrant and the relevant case reference number.
“Dear colleagues, is Sanna MANJANG still wanted by your country? If so, please provide a copy of the arrest warrant,” read the official correspondence from the Interpol office in Washington.
Manjang, who served in the Gambian military, is alleged to have been a key operative of the so-called “Junglers,” a notorious paramilitary hit squad that reportedly carried out assassinations, enforced disappearances, and acts of torture under Jammeh’s rule from 1994 to 2016. He is believed to have been one of the longest-serving members of the group, playing a direct role in some of the most egregious human rights violations of that era.
Authorities have not disclosed Manjang’s current whereabouts, but his name has surfaced repeatedly in investigations into the Jammeh regime’s crimes. Rights groups and victims’ advocates have long called for his arrest and prosecution, citing his alleged involvement in a litany of abuses.
With the issuance of the bench warrant, Gambian authorities may now take further steps toward ensuring his apprehension. It remains unclear whether extradition or international cooperation will be sought to bring Manjang before a Gambian court.