Earlier on Saturday main Gambian opposition leader Lawyer Ousainou Darboe took to the streets with his UDP party executive members demanding the release of Solo Sandeng, dead or alive. The protest march came after Mr Sanseng and a group of youths were arrested for staging a rear peaceful protest demanding electoral reforms in The Gambia. It is reported that, Mr Solo Sandeng was tortured while in police custody, and died shortly afterwards. Another activist Fatoumata Jawara, who was detained with Mr Sandeng during protests on Thursday, is believed to have serious injuries, according to sources on the ground. The rights groups, including Amnesty International, have called for an inquiry into the death of Solo Sandeng, along with the other activists.
From the pictures and videos taken during the protests march several senior opposition leaders could be seen being arrested and thrown at the back of military trucks on Saturday after demanding answers from the authorities. Security forces also used tear gas to disperse the protest group. Meanwhile, the Gambia information Minister, Sheriff Bojang has confirmed the arrest and detention of Lawyer Ousainou Darboe and his party executives for for defying the public order act.
In an interview with the BBC, Amnesty Internationl’s West African researcher Sabrina Mahtani demanded the immediate, thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of Mr Solo Sandeng. Also, Mr Sandeng’s daughter demanded justice for her father and she called on Gambians to stand up just as his father did to see justice is served.
Death in custody in The Gambia is a common theme, especially the government’s political opponents. Any opposition member that is arrested must be brutally tortured just to scare you off from supporting the opposition. This is an opportune moment for Gambians to rise up and demand their country back from the brutal Dictator Yahya Jammeh. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Gambia Voices 