Students of the University of The Gambia (UTG), joined by relatives and friends of the late Yunusa Mbye, staged a peaceful protest in Banjul on Thursday, calling for justice following the fatal stabbing of their colleague and demanding greater accountability from key government institutions.
The demonstrators marched through the capital to deliver petitions to the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Interior, raising concerns over what they described as failures in the country’s justice, healthcare, and security systems.
The protest initially turned tense after officials from the Ministry of Interior failed to appear during the scheduled time to receive the petition, prompting frustration among the protesters.
Addressing journalists, UTG Students’ Union President Ismaila Fadera said the demonstration was driven by concerns over delays in the judicial process and the circumstances surrounding Mbye’s death.
Fadera criticised the pace of the ongoing court proceedings, noting that the case had recently been adjourned because the victim’s family lacked legal representation. He urged authorities to ensure a swift prosecution of stabbing-related cases, arguing that delays undermine public confidence in the justice system.
He further alleged that the suspect in Mbye’s killing has a history of involvement in similar violent incidents, calling on the authorities to treat the matter with urgency.
The student leader also questioned the state of emergency healthcare services, citing eyewitness accounts that claimed Mbye was not immediately attended to after being rushed to hospital because the emergency ward was operating at full capacity.
According to Fadera, the protesters are seeking improvements in emergency medical response to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The Ministry of Interior also came under criticism, with demonstrators accusing the institution of failing to adequately address growing security concerns across the country. Protesters became increasingly agitated when ministry officials failed to arrive during the agreed 11:00 a.m. timeframe to receive the petition.
“The Ministry of Interior did not show up today. That is what is angering the protesters, and they want to see it otherwise. They have every right to do it,” Fadera told journalists during the demonstration.
Although representatives from the Ministries of Justice and Health received the petitions, the absence of the Interior Ministry for several hours heightened tensions among the crowd.
Fadera maintained that the expiry of the official permit for the protest would not deter the students from pursuing justice.
“The students and the family remain committed to ensuring accountability and will continue peaceful demonstrations until meaningful action is taken,” he said.
Later in the day, representatives from the Ministry of Interior, alongside officials from the Ministries of Justice and Health, arrived to formally receive the protesters’ petition.
The protest follows growing public concern over the killing of Yunusa Mbye, with students calling not only for justice in the case but also for broader reforms to strengthen public security, improve emergency healthcare services, and accelerate the prosecution of violent crimes.
No incidents of violence were reported during the demonstration. Authorities have yet to publicly respond to the specific demands outlined in the petitions.
