Recent events surrounding the youth-led protests for transparency and accountability in the management of former President Yahya Jammeh’s assets have brought to light not only the passion of young Gambians but also the integrity of leaders willing to stand with them.
Among those who rose in support were Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe of Banjul and renowned legal mind Essa Mbaye Faal. Faal issued heartfelt messages of solidarity, while Mayor Lowe went a step further, visiting detention centres where 27 protesters were being held. Their actions offered more than moral support—they sent a resounding message to the young demonstrators: you are not alone in your demand for good governance and justice.
Unfortunately, this powerful display of leadership seems to have rattled the country’s Agriculture Minister, Demba Sabally. In a now widely circulated video clip, Sabally can be seen issuing a direct threat to both Faal and Mayor Lowe, warning that they would be arrested if they ever appear at a protest site again.
Such a threat, as juvenile and reckless as it may appear, must be taken seriously. At stake is not just the freedom of two individuals, but the civic space in which all Gambians must be able to operate freely. For a sitting cabinet minister to issue threats against citizens exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights is both undemocratic and deeply concerning.
The Gambia stands at a crossroads as the 2026 general elections approach. Citizens and leaders alike must remain vigilant. Attempts to silence dissent or criminalise darity cannot be allowed to fester.
We urge all democratic forces within the country to condemn these threats in the strongest possible terms—and to stand firm in the ongoing struggle for transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.
