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Former ‘Jungler’ Sanna Manjang, Accused of Brutal Atrocities, Arrested in Senegal
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The Gambian government announced the arrest of Lieutenant-Colonel Sanna Manjang, a former leader of the “Junglers” death squad, on Saturday, November 29th, in a joint operation with Senegalese forces.The arrest marks a significant step toward accountability for alleged crimes committed under the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh.
The Ministry of Information in The gambia expressed gratitude for Senegal’s “constant cooperation and solidarity in matters relating to regional security and justice,” highlighting the collaborative effort that led to Manjang’s capture in the Casamance region. Manjang had been subject to an international arrest warrant issued in February by the Banjul Magistrate’s Court, stemming from the findings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC).
the Reign of the ‘Junglers’ and Manjang’s Alleged Role
Manjang, described as one of the most feared figures during jammeh’s 22-year rule, is accused of involvement in numerous cases of torture, murder, and forced disappearance. the “Junglers,” formally known as the Scorpion Squad, operated as a clandestine unit carrying out extrajudicial killings and suppressing dissent.
According to Gambian authorities, Manjang had been hiding in the border region between Casamance, a southern region of Senegal, and The Gambia for nearly nine years. He is specifically cited in connection with the assassination of journalist Deyda Hydara, the 2005 massacre of 59 West African migrants, and the murders of relatives of President Jammeh, including Kajali Jammeh and Haruna Jammeh. Other alleged victims include Daba Marena, Ndure Cham, Dawda Nyassi, Mahawa Cham, Saul Ndow, and Yama Colley.
Witnesses before the TRRC described Manjang as leading numerous capture and execution missions. Despite these accusations, Manjang has publicly defended himself, portraying himself as a patriotic servant of Jammeh.
International Justice Efforts and Recent Convictions
The arrest of Manjang comes amid a broader international effort to bring members of the Jammeh regime to justice. In April 2025, a Denver jury convicted Michael Sang Correa, another “Jungler” member, of five counts of torture and one count of conspiracy to commit torture.In 2023, Bai Lowe, a former driver for the “Junglers,” received a life sentence from a German court for his involvement in the murder of Deyda Hydara and other crimes.
“Correa’s conviction, as well as the recent convictions of former Jungler Bai Lowe in Germany and former Gambian Interior Minister Ousman Sonko in Switzerland, underline the crucial importance of laws of universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction in providing justice to survivors of international crimes committed in countries where impunity is endemic,” noted a legal advisor from Trial International.
Manjang is also accused of attempting to assassinate lawyer Ousman Sillah and targeting collaborators of Deyda Hydara, Ida Jagne and Nian Sarang Jobe.
A New Phase in Regional Security Cooperation
The operation leading to Manjang’s arrest demonstrates a strengthened security partnership between Dakar and Banjul, a collaboration that has been discreetly ongoing as 2017. Gambian authorities view this as “a major step forward towards justice and accountability.”
Manjang is expected to be transferred to Banjul in the coming days, with ongoing discussions to facilitate his extradition. The arrest signals a decisive turning point in the pursuit of justice for victims of the Jammeh regime and underscores the growing international commitment to holding perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable, regardless of their location.
Did you know?– Sanna Manjang, a former “Jung
