Gambian president appoints controversial interior minister

Gambian President Adama Barrow on Thursday reshuffled his government, controversially appointing as interior minister a former police chief who was in post when a political activist was murdered.

Solo Sandeng's death in custody in April 2016 sparked a political movement that eventually ousted former leader Yahya Jammeh, who ruled the tiny West African nation with an iron fist for 22 years.

Sandeng's killing encouraged a weak and split political opposition to unite behind Barrow who went on to beat Jammeh in a December 2016 election.

Barrow also appointed a defence minister, former Olympic sprinter Sheikh Omar Faye, for the first time in 22 years, a statement said. The functions were previously exercised by the president

Gambian prosecutors in March 2018 charged eight former spies with conspiracy to murder Sandeng while nine more, including the National Intelligence Agency former chief Yankuba Badjie, are already on trial.