By Madi Jobarteh
Banjul, The Gambia: Five youth activists – Omar Saibo Camara, Kemo Fatty, Alieu Bah, Mamadou Camara, and Bakary Tamba – were arrested by the Gambia Police Force on September 15, 2025, as they peacefully assembled to protest the forceful removal of the Auditor General from his office. A contingent of police officers entered the offices of the National Audit Office to physically remove the Auditor General Modou Ceesay following the decision by the President to appoint Mr. Ceesay as a minister on September 10. Ceesay turned down the appointment, citing his constitutional and legal duties.
As police officers raided the offices of the National Audit Office, a youth-led organization, Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) called for a show of support for the Auditor General and in defence of the Constitution, with a planned press conference in front of the premises. Consequently, the Spokesperson of GALA Omar Saibo Camara and another member, Alieu Bah, have been arrested together with a prominent environmental activist, Kemo Fatty, and two other youths, Mamadou Camara and Bakary Tamba, and are currently detained at the Kotu Police Station in the Kanifing Municipality.
They have been charged with unlawful assembly and nuisance.
The arrests involved excessive use of force and the deployment of tear gas, leading to the hospitalization of another youth activist, Fatou S Ndure of the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice. Several journalists were roughly handled as they were prevented from covering the incident. One of the journalists from the Gambia Talent TV was briefly arrested and later released.
URGENT ACTION:
Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice hereby:
1. Condemns these arrests and the use of force on protesters and journalists.
2. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detained persons.
3. Demands the drop of all charges against the detained persons.
4. Calls on the Inspector General of Police to respect and protect the right to peaceful assembly.
