Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – In a striking display of both resolve and civic discipline, youth leaders protesting at the Westfield youth monument continue to demand the unconditional release of their detained comrades while maintaining a peaceful and orderly sit-in that has become a symbol of civic engagement in The Gambia.

The protest, spearheaded by the movement Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), erupted in response to the arrest of 27 young activists who had marched peacefully to demand full transparency on the whereabouts of assets seized from former president Yahya Jammeh.

At the heart of the standoff are key movement leaders who have refused to accept release on self-bail, citing concerns of continued police harassment and manipulation.

Among them are Gallas Csay Jnr. and Ousainu Gambia, detained at the Wellingara Police Station, who rejected a police offer of release on self-bail. According to sources at the station, both men informed the officer commanding that they would not leave custody unless released unconditionally and with all charges dropped. “We did not request bail, and we will not leave under false terms,” one of the two reportedly told officers.

A similar stance was taken by Omar Camara, currently held at the Brufut Anti-Crime Unit. Camara, too, refused self-bail and told his jailers that he would only accept release if it was unconditional and without legal strings attached.

Meanwhile, other GALA leaders who accepted release on self-bail— Hakeem Touray, Boubaccar “Bob” Keita, Sheriff, and Alieu Bah—have returned to Westfield to rejoin and rally the protesters. Their return has brought renewed energy and strategic direction to the sit-in, which continues to draw hundreds of young people from across the Greater Banjul Area.

Touray, Keita, and others have reiterated calls for authorities to respect the protesters’ constitutional right to peacefully assemble and demand answers. At the core of the protest is a demand for the government to release a full list of Jammeh’s confiscated assets, the buyers of those assets, and a detailed report on how proceeds from those sales have been utilized.

But beyond resistance, the Westfield sit-in has also become a model of disciplined civil protest. Under the leadership of the GALA organizers, demonstrators have taken deliberate steps to keep the protest grounds clean.

Volunteers have been seen collecting garbage and clearing debris, ensuring that the public space remains accessible and unspoiled despite the growing crowds.

Support from the public has also played a role in sustaining the protest. In one act of solidarity, a woman donated D2,700 worth of meat pies to feed the demonstrators.

Others brought cakes and refreshments to boost morale. These gestures have reinforced the sense of collective ownership and mutual care that now defines the protest.

“Our presence here is not about chaos,” said one of the youth leaders. “It’s about principle, justice, and doing things the right way—even in protest.”

Despite the continued silence from the authorities, protesters remain determined to hold the space at Westfield until all detainees are released unconditionally and their demands for transparency on Jammeh’s looted assets are addressed.

With peaceful discipline as their weapon and transparency as their goal, the youth at Westfield have drawn a line—one that speaks louder each day to a nation still reckoning with its past.