A peaceful protest outside PURA without procession has landed 23 Gambians in court, exposing stark inconsistencies in how the state applies the Public Order Act, just months after Gamtel/Gamcel staff protested at the gate of their office at Westfield without a single arrest.

The arrest of peaceful protesters opposing PURA’s controversial mobile data tariff hike has sparked a wave of condemnation from Gambian and international civil society organizations, who are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees.

From the Solo Sandeng Foundation to regional and pan-African movements like Activista Africa and Africans Rising, rights groups warn that the crackdown mirrors a troubling pattern of repression, undermining the very freedoms Gambians fought to reclaim after Jammeh’s rule.

The arrests and detention of youth protesters challenging PURA’s D50-per-1GB mobile data price floor have once again exposed deep cracks in The Gambia’s security sector, raising fears of a return to Jammeh-era tactics where “orders from above” justified unlawful detentions, brutality, and disregard for due process.

Despite promises of reform after the TRRC, what happened at PURA’s office and the subsequent crackdown have reignited public concern over police discipline, accountability, and the right to peaceful assembly.

Nineteen individuals, including activist Yusef Taylor and rapper Ali “Killa Ace” Cham, were arrested on Friday, 22nd August 2025, following a peaceful protest outside the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) headquarters.

The demonstration was held in response to a controversial directive that triggered a 243% increase in mobile data promotional prices. Although the protest was static and conducted without loudspeakers or a procession, the Gambia Police Force deemed it unlawful, citing the lack of a permit under the Public Order Act.