Bojang Siblings Finally Released After Two-Day Protest

Bojang Siblings Brufut Protest © Askanwi

By Fatoumata Jaiteh

A high-profile criminal case that has gripped the nation since 2023 reached a dramatic conclusion on 1st April 2026, as Ousainou Bojang and his sister, Amie Bojang, were finally released from state custody following a High Court acquittal, public protests, and mounting pressure on authorities.

The case originates from the fatal shooting of two police officers and the injury of another at the Sukuta-Jabang Traffic Lights on 12th September 2023. Ousainou Bojang had faced multiple serious charges, including murder, terrorism, attempted murder, and grievous bodily harm, while his sister was charged as an accessory, allegedly helping the accused to flee the country.

In a judgment dated 30th March 2026, Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court in Banjul acquitted and discharged both accused, ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court identified critical weaknesses in the state’s case:

1. Alibi Not Disproved
   The judge held that Bojang’s alibi—that he was at work in Brufut at the time—was consistent, corroborated, and unshaken. Crucially, the prosecution failed to properly investigate it, which the court described as a fatal flaw.

2. No Reliable Link to the Crime Scene
   Physical evidence collapsed under scrutiny. Shoes allegedly linked to the shooter did not fit the accused and instead fit another witness, effectively breaking any evidential connection to the crime.

3. Confessional Statements Deemed Unsafe
   Although admitted, the court ruled that the accused’s extrajudicial statements carried little to no weight due to:

   Failure to comply with mandatory video recording under the Anti-Terrorism Act,

   Allegations of coercion,

   Contradictions with other evidence,

   Lack of corroboration.

4. Identity of the Shooter Not Proven
   The judge found no credible identification evidence, no proper identification parade, and no forensic proof linking Bojang to the shooting. Witnesses, including the surviving officer, could not identify him.

Justice Jaiteh concluded that the prosecution failed to establish that Ousainou Bojang was the perpetrator, entitling him to the benefit of the doubt on all counts.

Amie Bojang’s charge also failed. The court held that:

• Since the principal offence was not proven, accessory liability could not stand, and

• There was no evidence she knew of any murder when assisting her brother.

Both accused were acquitted and discharged.

In a decisive closing remark, the court reaffirmed a core legal principle: where doubt exists, it must be resolved in favour of the accused, and where the main offence is unproven, “the superstructure of accessory liability must necessarily fall.”

Despite the acquittal, the case took a contentious turn when the Gambia Police Force re-arrested the siblings shortly after their release, prompting widespread public outrage. The move was seen by many as defiance of the High Court’s ruling and sparked spontaneous protests, beginning at Westfield on 31st March.

Civil society group Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) quickly mobilised further demonstrations, calling for a second day of protest in Brufut.

Youths and activists took to the streets, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the Bojang siblings, amplifying pressure on the government.

Amid the growing unrest, the Ministry of Justice issued a statement on 1st April 2026, defending the re-arrest, attempting to justify the government’s actions. A planned press conference, formerly slated for 1st April 2026 and intended to address the situation, was, however, abruptly cancelled, further fuelling public speculation and criticism.

Following two days of sustained protests and increasing national attention, the Gambia Police Force eventually announced the release of Ousainou and Amie Bojang from state custody with immediate effect.