Beauty pageant winner accuses ex-Gambian President of rape

Gambia’s former dictator, Yahya Jammeh, has been accused of raping a beauty pageant winner four years ago.

The accusation of sexual violence is one of several that have come up against Jammeh while he was in power.

After losing the presidential election and initially refusing to step down, Jammeh fled into exile in Equatorial Guinea in 2017.

The accuser, Fatou Jallow, plans to testify before Gambia’s truth and reconciliation commission which was set up to investigate crimes committed during Jammeh’s rule.

Jammeh has been described by Human Rights Watch, as a sexual predator who lavished gifts on young women and their families before attacking them violently.

The human rights organization says it will take international pressure for Jammeh to be extradited from Equatorial Guinea.