(JollofNews) – Eight Gambian pro-democracy activists who were detained for protesting against President Adama Barrow’s decision to cling on to power in defiance of a key election pledge have been released on court bail.
Abdou Njie, Ebrima Kitim Jarju, Sheriffo Sonko, Hagi Suwaneh, Fanta Mballow, Karim Touray, Yankuba Dabo and Muctarr Ceesay have been languishing in detention at the Mile Two Prisons after they were arrested and charged with multiple offences including rioting, unlawful assembly and wilful destruction of property.
As part of the bail conditions, the activists are each required to produce two Gambian sureties, surrender their travel documents and D200,000 bond to the registrar of the High Court.
The arrest and detention of the activists has attracted condemnation from various rights groups.
President Adama Bah is reneging a key part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2016 by all coalition parties who united before the polls.
Seven opposition parties united behind Barrow in the run up to the polls, which enabled him to unseat long serving Yahya Jammeh who had ruled the Gambia for over two decades.
But despite his earlier promises to only serve for a three-year transition period after winning elections, the president have had a change of heart and has formed his own political party to contest future elections.
The decision has angered his opponents and activists who have accused him of clinging to power and eroding the country’s democratic gains.
