Gambia court sentences soldier to 12 years in prison for leading foiled coup

FILE PHOTO: President of Gambia Adama Barrow arrives to address the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Segar

BANJUL (Reuters) - Gambia's high court on Tuesday sentenced a soldier to 12 years in prison for leading a foiled coup last year against President Adama Barrow's administration.

Eight soldiers were charged with treason and conspiracy in January for their role in a Dec. 21, 2022 coup attempt in the West African nation of 2.5 million people almost entirely surrounded by Senegal.