A junior navy officer, who was identified by Gambia's government as the mastermind behind a thwarted coup plot in December the previous year, has been convicted of treason and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

On Tuesday, a high court determined that Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera had conspired and made unlawful attempts to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Adama Barrow.

Fadera and seven other soldiers had been charged with treason, conspiracy, and inciting mutiny for their alleged involvement in the 2022 coup attempt.

However, the court acquitted three other military officers on Tuesday. One soldier involved in the coup attempt remains on the run and is considered a fugitive.

Additionally, the court exonerated a police officer and two civilians who had faced charges of concealing treason and conspiring to commit a felony.

Before President Barrow's ascension to power, The Gambia had been under the rule of Yahya Jammeh for two decades.

Jammeh had seized power in a coup in 1994 and successfully thwarted multiple coup attempts against his regime before losing the 2016 election.