NHRC Demands Independent Investigation into Omar Badjie’s Death which Sparked Civil Unrest

Gambia Police Force Intervention Unit

By the National Human Rights Commission, 27th September 2025

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has received information from multiple sources, including its own preliminary fact-finding initiatives and social media reports, regarding the death of one Omar Badjie on Friday, 26th September 2025. His death led to public disturbances and clashes between the youth and police officers in Mandinary Village in the West Coast Region, necessitating the deployment of the Police Intervention Unit.

The cause of death of Omar Badjie remains unclear. The Flash Report of the Gambia Police Force on the incident stated that the suspect, who was not named at the time, "fell during hot pursuit and was taken to the hospital and confirmed dead." However, some of the youth interviewed by online media during the disturbances alleged that Omar Badjie was beaten to death by police officers during arrest.

The Commission extends its sincere condolences to the family of the late Omar Badjie and urges that their rights, including access to timely and accurate information on the circumstances of his death, be fully respected.

Considering the conflicting accounts, the gravity of the allegations, and the sanctity of life guaranteed by Section 18 of the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia, the Commission calls on the Gambia Police Force to urgently establish a task force to thoroughly and impartially investigate the death of Omar Badjie without undue delay. In the interest of transparency, accountability, and public confidence, the Commission further recommends that the investigation include independent oversight and that the findings be made public. Witnesses who may assist in the investigation must be protected from intimidation or harassment.

The Commission recalls that The Gambia, as a State Party to international human rights treaties, is bound by the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which require that force be used only when strictly necessary, proportionate, and subject to accountability. The Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2023 also explicitly prohibits all forms of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.

The Commission is deeply concerned about recurring incidents involving the police, especially arbitrary conduct during public assemblies and the indiscriminate firing of teargas by the police intervention unit, which often exacerbate tensions. The Gambia Police Force is reminded that arbitrary arrest and the disproportionate use of force deprive individuals of their inherent dignity and violate fundamental rights protected under both national law and international instruments ratified by The Gambia.

While recognising the responsibility of the police to maintain law and order, the commission stresses that this duty must be exercised in full compliance with the constitution, the rule of law, and due process. The Commission further calls on the authorities to take this tragic incident as a wake-up call to accelerate and strengthen security sector reforms, including training of law enforcement officers in human rights, crowd management, and non-lethal policing methods.

The Commission wishes to reiterate its primary mandate of promoting and protecting human rights and fostering a culture of human rights in The Gambia, as per the NHRC Act 2017. It remains committed to working collaboratively with and supporting the security sector, particularly the Gambia Police Force, to protect human rights while effectively carrying out their functions of protecting lives and property and maintaining public security and order.

The Commission also appeals to the youth and the general public to remain calm, refrain from violence, and allow due process to take its course. Rights holders are reminded that they have a duty to act according to law, support the police in the maintenance of peace and security, and never take the law into their own hands. People suspected of violating the law are entitled to the same rights as everyone else, including the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court of law.

Let Justice Guide our Actions.