The Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure of The Gambia has revoked the licenses of Hilltop Radio, Afri Radio, Taranga FM and Paradise FM.

 In a letter addressed to the four radio stations, Saul Njie who signed the letter on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said, “I am directed to inform you that your license to operate has been revoked with immediate effect. Thank you for your cooperation.” There was no reason assigned for the revocation of the license of the radio stations neither was there a clear indication as to who had directed him to revoke the licenses of the target stations.

The revocation of the licenses of the four radio stations implies that the stations have been forced to close down until their licenses are reinstated. 

The revocation of the licenses of the radio stations comes days after they were ordered to cease broadcasting. Hilltop Radio, Afri Radio, and Taranga FM were ordered by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to stop broadcasting on January 1, 2017. Afri Radio was however allowed on air on January 3, 2017 on condition that the station will play only music.

In the case of Paradise FM it was ordered by persons claiming to be from the Ministry of Communication to cease broadcasting on January 8.

While there have been no official communication on the reasons for the order to cease broadcasting and subsequent revocation of the licenses of the radio stations on January 9, many believe it is as a result of the radio stations’ coverage of activities of President-Elect Adama Barrow and his impending inauguration scheduled for January 19, 2017.

 The MFWA condemns the revocation of the licenses of the media organisations. In the wake of a political crisis in The Gambia after President Yahya Jammeh refused to accept the outcome of the December 1, 2016 elections in which he lost to Adama Barrow, vibrant media have become extra necessary to keep the public informed about happenings in the country. We therefore urge the authorities in The Gambia to ensure that freedom of expression, press freedom and access to information are respected in the country.

Twelve years ago today, prominent Gambian Journalist Deyda Hydra was murdered on his way from work.

Hydara who was the editor of The Point newspaper was gunned down in a drive-by shooting by unknown assailants on December 16, 2004 on his way from work. Hydara was also the president of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) and a well-known critic of Gambian President Yahya Jammeh and led advocacy efforts against legislative restrictions on press freedom in The Gambia.

The State’s Response to the Murder 
After Hydara’s murder, the state opened an investigation which was closed in less than a month. No arrests were made and no one was held responsible for the murder. Not only did the state not properly investigate the murder but it also made it a point to restrict and intimidate those who called for proper investigations.

On December 30, 2014, Sam Obi, a Nigerian journalist was arrested and subjected to thorough questioning by officials of the Serious Crime Unit of Gambia Police Force for six hours. Obi’s arrest followed an interview he granted to Radio France International (RFI) about a march organised by the Gambia Press Union (GPU) to protest the murder of Hydara.

On October 13, 2005, the Gambian authorities ordered the management of The Point to discontinue the “Good Morning Mr. President” column started by Deyda Hydara. The then director general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Daba Marrena, told Pap Saine, the then managing editor of The Point that President Jammeh and other government officials were not happy with the column. Following the directive, the column was taken out from the subsequent editions of the newspaper. The management of the newspaper said the authorities threatened to close down the newspaper if it failed to remove the column.

Further, on the first anniversary (December 16, 2005) of Hydara’s murder, officers from the Gambia Police Intervention Force sealed off the site of Hydara’s murder preventing members of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) and foreign journalists from accessing the site. The officers claimed the GPU did not have authority to assemble what they described as a “large crowd.” This resulted in a clash. Ramatoulie Charreh, a female photojournalist who attempted to take pictures of the clash had her camera seized. The officers also grabbed her and folded her hands behind her back. She immediately became unconscious and was rushed to the hospital where she regained consciousness and was later discharged.

Ten months after that, the NIA on October 27, 2006, arrested and questioned Musa Saidykhan, then editor of The Independentnewspaper  following an interview he granted to other newspapers on Hydara. Some newspapers, quoted Saidykhan who had then returned from The All Africa Editors Forum in South Africa as saying that then South African President Thabo Mbeki said he would assist the Gambian authorities to resolve Hydara’s murder. The NIA took Saidykhan to their office, interrogated him for many hours after which he was made to write a statement on his trip to South Africa as well as answer questions relating to his profession.

The government silenced media who spoke about Hydara’s murder and also attempted to vilify the slain journalist. In an interview on the state-owned Gambian Radio and Television Stations (GRTS) on June 9, 2009, President Yahya Jammeh quoted the findings of NIA which concluded that Hydara’s gruesome murder was as a “result of personal revenge by a jealous husband, whose wife committed adultery with Hydara.”

Application at ECOWAS Court

On November 23, 2011 Hydara’s family together with the International Federation of Journalists-Africa filed a suit at the ECOWAS Court against The Gambia. In their application, Hydara’s family argued that The Gambia;

• failed to effectively investigate the murder of journalist Deyda Hydara;
• caused and tolerated impunity concerning the death of Hydara;
• violated the right to freedom of expression;
• failed to provide redress to Hydara’s family, because failing to properly investigate the crime inhibited the family from obtaining compensation.

At the trial, Captain Lamin K. Saine a senior official NIA who was the head of the team that conducted investigations into Hydara’s murder testified as their witness. He defended the NIA investigations and said it was prompt, independent, and that the NIA had included the family. Saine also admitted that the NIA dedicated only 22 days to investigating Hydara’s murder.

On June 10, 2014, the Court found the Gambian government guilty of failing to properly investigate Hydara’s murder. The Court noted that the NIA investigations did not carry out any ballistic, bullets and or weapon tests as part of the investigation. It said by failing to conduct proper investigations, government allowed impunity to thrive in the country. The Court consequently ordered the Gambian government to pay $50,000 in damages Hydara’s family and $10,000 as legal costs.

Two Years After Court Ruling

 The Gambia is yet to comply with the ruling of the Court just as it has failed to comply with the two earlier rulings of the Court – the cases of Chief Ebrimah Maneh and Musa Saidykhan. Meanwhile the freedom of expression condition in the country has worsened.

The MFWA again appeals to the ECOWAS to ensure that The Gambia complies with the rulings of the Court and ensure justice for Hydara and his family.