Sacked gambian minister has sought asylum in Sweden – Aftonbladet

Gambia’s president Yahya Jammeh has fired the minister of the interior Ousman Sonko, who is notorious for his brutality.

Now the ex-minister fled the country and sought asylum in Sweden. This is according to a source for the newspaper Aftonbladet.

“I can confirm that a person by that name has applied for a residence permit in Sweden,” says Irene Sokolow at the Swedish Migration board’s press office.

Ousman Sonko described as one of president Yahya Jammehs the nearest men. But at the end of last week to the authoritarian leader to have fired him from the post of minister of the interior. It is reported by many gambian media. The data has however not been officially confirmed by the regime in the country.

Since Friday, it has been unclear was Ousman Sonko found himself in. But now Aftonbladet tell us that the ex-minister has taken to Sweden.

Have applied for a residence permit

According to a whistleblower landed Sonko at Arlanda during the Tuesday night. Shortly thereafter, he applied for asylum.

the Swedish migration board confirms that an application for a residence permit has been received. In general, however, the authority is secretive about the case.

“I can confirm that an application for a residence permit has been received from a person who has the name that you mention,” says Irene Sokolow at the Swedish Migration board’s press office.

– What it is for because to application, if it is asylum or something else, I can’t say. It is confidential.

the migration board do not want to go out with the details about Sonko’s whereabouts. Normally he would have brought to the work ankomstboende in Märsta. According to Aftonbladet, whistleblowers are, however, he was not there.

” We do individual assessments of each case when it comes to accommodation and other circumstances. But what happened in this specific case, I can’t comment on, ” says Pierre Karatzian at the Swedish Migration board’s press service.

When people who are high-ranking members of foreign governments applying for a residence permit in Sweden, the migration board will inform the ministry of foreign affairs, or other authorities.

“If it comes to a person who has a high position in another country, we can of course take contact with the Swedish authorities, which may be of interest to know that the current person is here,” says Pierre Karatzian.

so far, it has not, however, UD connected.

” I have heard of the protocol, the embassies in the relevant field, and Afrikaenheten. We have not received any information about this, ” says Sofia Karlberg at the foreign MINISTRY press.

"Brutal loyalist"

President Yahya Jammeh took power in Gambia in connection with a military coup in 1994. He controls the country with the help of a number of loyal military leaders. Human rights organisations have for many years raised the alarm that critics of the regime are oppressed and subjected to violence.

In the spring, was arrested several members of the opposition UDP. One of the activists died in custody after having been subjected to torture, according to Amnesty International. The UN demanded that the death would be investigated. President Jammeh responded by asking the secretary-general, Ban Ki-Moon, to "go to hell".

The former interior minister Ousman Sonko has been a part of the political elite in the Gambia for a long time. Dissident media in the country describe him as brutal and hänsyslös.

"He has been known as one of the most brutal loyalists to Yahya Jammeh and his fingerprints in almost all cases of disappearances, extrajudicial executions, torture and detention of gambian citizens," writes the site gainako.com.