By Adama Makasuba
The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice has strongly condemned the police response to a peaceful student protest at the University of The Gambia (UTG) on December 2nd.
Some students organized the protest to oppose the dismissal of two lecturers, Dr. Alieu Gibba and Professor Matarr Njie. Held on university grounds, the demonstration proceeded without violence or disruption. The Centre emphasized that those participating were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly, noting, “There was no procession, nor the use of loudspeakers, indicating that the protest complied with the Public Order Act.” However, tensions escalated dramatically when police arrived in riot gear and employed tear gas.
This heavy-handed response resulted in several students requiring brief hospitalization, drawing widespread criticism from human rights advocates. The Centre deemed the use of force “disproportionate and unjustified,” asserting that “the students were not violent, and the police response constituted an abuse of power.”
The Edward Francis Small Centre has called for a comprehensive investigation of the incident by Gambia’s National Human Rights Commission, the Inspector General of Police, and the administration of UTG. The organization underscored the need for accountability to prevent similar occurrences. “The Gambia must uphold the rule of law and protect citizens’ rights to protest peacefully,” the Centre cautioned against a return to practices reminiscent of authoritarianism.
The protest has also brought broader concerns about academic freedom and governance at the University of The Gambia. Students have expressed apprehension that dismissing the two lecturers may compromise the quality of education and silence critical voices within the institution. Meanwhile, the university administration has not yet issued a statement addressing either the protest or the police intervention, further intensifying dissatisfaction among the university community.
