Police Should Drop Common Nuisance Charge on Momodou Justice Darboe of Jollof News
Momodou Justice Darboe
By the Online Media Association of The Gambia (GOMA), 17th April 2026
The Online Media Association of The Gambia (GOMA) is urging the Gambia Police Force to drop its common nuisance charge against Jollof News journalist Momodou Justice Darboe. Darboe has been charged with common nuisance by the police and is expected in court on Monday, 20th April 2026.
Darboe was allegedly assaulted by a police officer and is instead being charged by the police. We urge all journalists to follow this case and report actively on it.
After the police incident appeared to have died down since the second week of March, the police summoned Darboe on Wednesday, 15th April 2026, and charged him with common nuisance. He was subsequently ordered to report to the police early on Monday morning, 20th April 2026, before being arraigned in court.
GOMA is concerned that Darboe is being ordered to report to the police instead of being allowed to report to the court with his lawyers for the hearing.
After Darboe was released on 11th March 2026, he informed the Gambia Press Union that his phone was wrenched from his hand by Senior Police Officer Abdoulie Sanneh. In addition, Darboe revealed that he was assaulted and showed images of injuries to his hands.
Momodou Justice Darboe injured hands
The police initially charged Darboe with assaulting a police officer but have now revised the charge to common nuisance after almost a month. Since then, Darboe has been reporting to the police, resulting in this latest charge.
This incident highlights the lack of implementation of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission’s (TRRC) recommendations accepted by the government in its White Paper published on 22nd May 2022.
One of the TRRC recommendations under Theme 7: Attack on the Media calls for the government to “provide comprehensive training and reform of the security sector to understand journalism and the importance of freedom of expression in a democratic government.”
In response, “the Government accepts the recommendation of the Commission as part of its reform of the security sector.”
However, to date, there have been a number of incidents which have demonstrated that, if such training is taking place, it is not having the desired effect. This incident is the latest example.
We therefore call on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Gambia Police Force, and the Ministry of Interior to ensure the safety of journalists and citizens is protected outside court premises.
In addition, we call on the authorities to ensure that journalists and citizens operate in a safe environment without fear of attack from police officers sworn to protect them.
We call on the Gambia Police Force to drop the common nuisance charge against Momodou Justice Darboe of Jollof News and to train its police officers not to take the law into their own hands by resorting to violence in the first instance.
Security officers must recognize that taking photographs in public spaces, including outside the court, is the lawful right of every citizen, and of journalists in particular.
In addition, citizens have the constitutional right to document police actions, which in some instances could be their last line of defence to prove their case.
