Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Senegalese authorities on Tuesday extradited Sanna Manjang, the former Jungler long linked to some of the most notorious atrocities of the Jammeh era, to The Gambia, bringing an end to his brief trip after being arrested on November 29 in Casamance.
The transfer, conducted under heavy Senegalese and Gambian security presence in the early hours of the morning, marks one of the most consequential handovers since the fall of Yahya Jammeh’s government.
As we previously reported this afternoon, security sources confirmed that Manjang was detained last week alongside three Senegalese nationals from Casamance, whose families strongly insist had no hostile plans against The Gambia. Those arrests, however, placed Manjang back into regional custody after years on the run.
A Symbolic Transfer Laden With Irony
Video footage of the handover shows Manjang, dressed in a grey African attire and handcuffe, stepping out of a Senegalese military vehicle before being formally handed to Gambian authorities.
The scene, witnessed by elements of the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) military police, the State Intelligence Service (SIS), the police, and the Gambia Immigration Department (GID), unfolded with striking attention to protocol.
A senior GAF military police officer, who appeared to be in charge of the operation, was heard advising a junior officer to “be careful with the handcuff” and to respect the detainee’s rights.
In accordance with international detention standards, the officer instructed that his junior’s facemask be removed so Manjang could see the faces of his handlers—an act meticulously observed as photographs were taken.
For many Gambians, this moment was loaded with symbolism. At the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC), numerous witnesses recounted how Manjang, one of the Junglers’ most feared operatives, showed no such courtesy to his victims—many of whom were tortured or summarily executed without warning, mercy, or visibility of their captors.
Escorted to Banjul
Following the brief observance of procedures, Manjang was placed in the GAF military police vehicle marked MP1 and whisked away in a security convoy bound for Banjul. Authorities have yet to announce his precise detention location, but security sources confirm he remains in military custody pending further procedures.
His extradition represents a significant step in ongoing efforts to bring Jammeh-era perpetrators to justice. It also reinforces the growing security cooperation between Senegal and The Gambia, especially concerning fugitives tied to the 22-year dictatorship.
More updates are expected as Gambian authorities determine the next steps in what many view as a long-awaited and historic accountability process.
