On September 15, 2025, police arrested and detained five individuals at the National Audit Office in Kanifing. The victims include activists Omar Saibo Camara, Public Relations Officer of the civil society organisation combatting corruption “Gambians Against Looted Assets” (GALA) alongside three GALA member; Kemo Fatty, Alieu Bah and Mamadou Camara. Bakary Tamba, a journalist from the online media, Gambia Talents Promotion, was briefly detained but later released after screening.
The activists and other members gathered at the National Audit Office (NAO) in Kanifing district in the west of Banjul, capital town of Gambia. Their protest was meant to express their discontent regarding the deployment of police forces to forcibly remove Auditor General Momodou Ceesay after the latter rejected his appointment as Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment.
According to eyewitnesses, the activists were peacefully expressing their support for Auditor General Ceesay, who was unexpectedly ordered to leave his office before he could speak to the media. Reports indicate that activist Omar Saibo was arrested while he was giving an interview. Some of the detained individuals were attempting to hold a press conference outside the National Audit Office, while others were engaging with journalists. Witnesses report that police forcibly dragged some protesters into a pickup truck, and there were also accounts of officers using tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The Gambia Police Force (GPF) accused the detainees of “unlawful assembly and common nuisance”, alleging incitement and the use of disparaging language. The GPF also cautioned journalists against “engaging in activism under the guise of reporting,” warning that unauthorised gatherings would not be tolerated.
The Media Foundation for West Africa condemns the arrest and intimidation of activists and journalists for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and free expression. We urge the Gambian authorities to release all those detained, respect civic freedoms, and resolve the controversy surrounding the Auditor General in accordance with democratic principles.
