By Kebba AF Touray
The National Assembly Member for Banjul Central, Hon. Abdoulie Njai, has cautioned that genuine calls for transparency should not be ‘weaponized’ by denying people permits to their rights to peaceful assembly or protests.
Hon. Njai made this statement in the wake of recent developments in the country, regarding the ongoing peaceful protests by the youth who call for the unconditional and immediate release of the ring leaders of GALA (Gambians Against Looted Assets).
Hon. Njai, who is on official international duty, observed that given the current happenings, it is evident that denying a permit for peaceful assembly risks escalating political tensions in the country, adding that in this case, a group that is fewer than thirty individuals who submitted a lawful request to gather peacefully, should have been allowed to do so because it is their right. He said the Inspector General of the Gambia Police Force (IGP) could have simply granted the permit with reasonable conditions to ensure public order.
“This measured approach would have aligned with procedural fairness while mitigating the potential for conflict. We call for their unconditional release. I urge my fellow youth to remain calm and disciplined as we wait, to keep gatherings peaceful by documenting any violations of rights, and to also seek legal counsel when necessary. Our moral authority depends on our steadfast adherence to democratic norms and non-violence,” Hon. Njai said as he added his voice to the clarion calls to investigate the dubious sale of the former president’s assets. He also cautioned political actors against exploiting the demonstrations for partisan gain saying: “Genuine calls for transparency should not be ‘weaponized’ for narrow political advantage and by using young people to capitalize in these fragile moments.”
Rather, he said, the country must focus solely on upholding justice and serving the public interest. He said the calls are genuine and need not be blemished; that while the nation consistently honors the bravery and dedication of her security forces, he unequivocally condemns the excessive and unjustifiable violence exhibited by certain personnel toward peaceful protesters. He cited that such actions marked by unwarranted aggression and disregard for proportionality, betray the principles of public trust and professionalism and that this troubling pattern by the security forces exposes glaring deficiencies in the country’s ongoing security sector reforms.
Moving forward, Hon. Njie said robust accountability mechanisms and comprehensive retraining programs must be prioritized to realign institutional conduct with the values of restraint, dignity, and service to the people.
“As Parliament gears for an extraordinary session on the matter, I appeal to my fellow elected representatives to engage the matter with conscience and objectivity, remembering that accountability transcends party lines,” he appealed. He urged the need for the country to learn from the past by ensuring that any reform to the national laws on peaceful assembly should strengthen rather than erode fundamental rights; that while the cherished comrades remain confined, the nation must resist the urge to exploit these moments for personal grandstanding.
“This is not the time for self-promotion, but for solidarity and introspection. Let us pause to reflect deeply on our shared purpose; to assess where we stand as a movement and as a nation, and to chart a unified, principled path forward. Only through collective clarity and resolve can we navigate these challenges with integrity,” Hon. Njie said.
For the information of the readers, the ring leaders of GALA were arrested by officials of the Gambia Police Force last Thursday, 8th May 2025, when scores of youth who identified themselves as members of GALA (Gambians Against Looted Assets), converged to hold peaceful protest against government’s handling of former Jammeh’s properties. Members of GALA demand the immediate publication by the government, of the full list of all assets seized or sold, including the names of all the buyers and the final sales prices with full disclosure of the allocation of proceeds, including any payments to intermediaries or agents.
