BANJUL, The Gambia – The Concerned Citizens of The Gambia have formally requested a permit from Inspector General of Police Seedy Mukhtar to stage a peaceful protest on Thursday, 28 August 2025. The demonstration, scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., is expected to begin at Mile 2 Central Prison and end at the Police Headquarters in Banjul, with participants calling for the immediate release of detained youths.
The move comes amid mounting public concern over the treatment of arrested youths and increasing demands for reforms to safeguard civil rights.
According to police, 21 individuals were arrested on Monday, 25 August, for “common nuisance” and obstructing officers as they transported remanded protesters, following the court’s order, in relation to the unlawful assembly at the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) Headquarters on Kairaba Avenue.
The suspects were processed the following day and granted bail under what authorities described as “reasonable conditions.”
In a statement, the Gambia Police Force urged citizens to respect the rule of law and avoid actions that undermine public order and security.
However, opposition parties have strongly criticized the police response. Mama Kandeh’s Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), Ousainou Darboe’s United Democratic Party (UDP), and Essa Faal’s APP Sobbeya each condemned the arrests as “unlawful” and demanded the unconditional release of the detainees.
Civil society has also weighed in. The Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations (Victims’ Center) issued a statement on 25 August, denouncing what it described as “police brutality, unlawful arrest, and detention of peaceful protesters” during the 22 August PURA protest.
“The Victims’ Center is deeply concerned as to why the youths were denied their right to peaceful assembly, which led to unlawful arrests, illegal detention, and alleged mishandling of protesters,” the statement read. The Center urged the government to investigate alleged abuses by security forces, hold officers accountable, and uphold the country’s “Never Again” commitment against rights violations.
The group also expressed solidarity with the Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), Team Gom Sa Bopa, and the media fraternity, who have been vocal in challenging recent internet price hikes and calling for transparency at PURA.
With civil society and opposition voices amplifying calls for accountability, Thursday’s planned protest—if approved—could become a pivotal moment in the ongoing standoff between the state, its critics, and the wider public demanding greater respect for civil liberties.
