Former Gambian Intelligence Chief Begins Appeal of Death Sentence in Solo Sandeng Case

By Staff Reporter

Yankuba Badjie, the former director general of the National Intelligence Agency, appeared before the Court of Appeal on Monday as proceedings began in his challenge to a death sentence imposed over his role in the 2016 killing of political activist Solo Sandeng.

Mr. Badjie is seeking to overturn a July 13, 2022, conviction by Justice Kumba Sillah of the Banjul High Court, which found him guilty of murder and related offenses tied to Mr. Sandeng’s death while in state custody. He was sentenced to death.

When the case was called, Mr. Badjie was represented by Christopher Mane and Pauline [last name not provided]. No lawyer appeared on behalf of the state, despite court records indicating that the Ministry of Justice had been formally served with a hearing notice on Jan. 20, 2026.

Mr. Mane told the court that Mr. Badjie had initially filed his appeal on his own while detained at Mile 2 Prison and had been served with the hearing notice in custody. He said the former intelligence chief is now fully represented by counsel and requested additional time to submit amended grounds of appeal.

The Court of Appeal granted the request and adjourned the matter to Feb. 17, 2026, allowing the defense to file a revised notice of appeal.

In a pointed rebuke of the prosecution’s absence, the court warned that the Ministry of Justice would be re-served and that any further failure to appear could carry “serious consequences.”

In his field appeal, Mr. Badjie maintains his innocence, arguing that the High Court’s judgment was not supported by the evidence presented at trial. He is challenging both his conviction and the death sentence.

Mr. Badjie’s case is among the most prominent prosecutions arising from abuses committed under the former government of President Yahya Jammeh, whose 22-year rule was marked by widespread allegations of torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.