Gambian and International CSOs Condemn Arrest of Protester, Demand “Immediate and Unconditional Release”
Police Arresting Yusef Taylor Team Gom Sa Bopa Spokesperson
By Edward Francis Dalliah
Several civil society organizations (CSOs) in The Gambia and internationally have strongly condemned the arrest of peaceful protesters by the Gambia Police Force. The protest was organized in response to a directive issued by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), which resulted in a dramatic 248% increase in mobile data tariff promotions.
The demonstration, held on Friday, 22nd August 2025, took place outside PURA’s headquarters without any procession or the use of loudspeakers. In a statement issued on 23rd August, the Solo Sandeng Foundation pointed out that “the group of peaceful protesters gathered at the PURA headquarters, without any procession or use of a public sound system, to voice their dissatisfaction over the introduced tariff floor.”
Therefore, they called for “the immediate and unconditional release of all protesters who have been arrested during the recent protests. And call on the government to investigate PURA’s decision and hold them accountable for their failure to ensure quality services from GSM operators.”
Drawing a powerful historical comparison, the Foundation added, “Solo Sandeng was arrested & murdered for daring to demand electoral reform through peaceful protest. It is both disturbing and unacceptable that a decade after his brutal killing, young people in this country are still being arrested for exercising the very rights he died defending.”
Joining the chorus of condemnation of their statement, Activista Africa, a regional platform operating in The Gambia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and other countries, issued a statement demanding “the immediate and unconditional release of all peaceful protesters arrested.”
Likewise, Africans Rising, a pan-African movement present in all 55 African countries and more than 100 diaspora communities, “strongly condemns the unlawful arrest, detention, and reported mistreatment of 19 peaceful protesters in The Gambia during a demonstration against the Public Utility Regulation Authority’s attempt to impose anti-people internet data tariffs.”
The movement reiterated its demand for the “immediate and unconditional release of all 19 detained protesters,” echoing the same demand made by the detainees themselves when Askanwi Media visited several of the police stations where they are being held.
Support has also emerged from neighboring Senegal. The Y’en a Marre movement, in a Facebook post, demanded the protesters' immediate release and called on the Gambian authorities to “respect and guarantee the fundamental right to protest.”
Amid growing domestic and international pressure, the Gambia Police Force, in a Facebook post dated Sunday, 24th August 2025, announced that bail had been “opened with reasonable conditions for their release.” However, this statement falls short of the demands being made by both the detainees and the supporting CSOs, who continue to insist on unconditional release.
Although three individuals have so far accepted bail under conditions, the remaining 16 detainees continue to refuse conditional release, standing firm in their demand for unconditional bail.
