Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The murder trial of former “Jungler” Sanna Manjang continued Monday before the Banjul High Court, with retired soldier Yaya M.S. Darboe testifying as the fourth prosecution witness.
Darboe, who told the court he served for 31 years in the Gambia Armed Forces, said he had known Manjang since 2002 when they attended the same military course. His testimony focused largely on his arrest and alleged torture following the failed March 2006 coup attempt led by Ndure Cham.
According to Darboe, armed men dressed in black, including Manjang, arrested him at his home in Brusubi and transported him to Mile 2 Prison. He identified several members of the group as Bora Colley, Tumbul Tamba, Malick Jatta, Michael Correa, and Nuha Badjie, among others.
“They told me, ‘Small boy like you, you came to the army just yesterday, and you want to become President. We will kill you and fuck your wives,” Darboe testified.
He alleged that members of the group, including Manjang, assaulted him before Bora Colley intervened.
The witness further testified that he was later transferred to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) headquarters, where he was handcuffed, beaten with sticks and palm leaves, and interrogated about the alleged sponsors of the coup plot.
Darboe told the court that Musa Jammeh instructed those involved not to leave visible injuries on him because he was expected to appear on national television the following day.
He alleged that the torture caused him to lose sight in one eye. Recounting another incident, Darboe testified that Manjang allegedly told him: “Today we will kill you and bury you here and nothing will come out of it.”
He said he was severely beaten, had a cement block placed on his head, and had a plastic bag tied over his head while the men allegedly laughed and photographed him. He added that he was never provided medical treatment.
During cross-examination, defense counsel S.K. Jobe questioned Darboe about his conviction following the coup attempt. Darboe confirmed that he had been convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment before later receiving a presidential pardon and being reinstated into the Armed Forces.
Jobe further suggested to the witness that Manjang had been stationed in Kanilai on border patrol duties in 2006 and was not involved in investigations related to the coup attempt. In response, Darboe said he could not confirm Manjang’s posting at the time but maintained that “Sanna Manjang was always part of people who tortured him.”
Darboe also confirmed that he did not testify before the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission, though he said he had been approached by three human rights commissions in Senegal. He agreed to search for his court judgment and related documents ahead of the next hearing.
Presiding judge S.K. Jobarteh adjourned the matter to Tuesday, 19 May 2026, for the continuation of Darboe’s cross-examination.
Leave a Reply