Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia Police Force has announced the immediate release of Mr. Ousainou Bojang and his sister, Ms. Amie Bojang, from state custody following a day marked by protests and clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Brufut.
In a brief statement, the police informed the public that the two had been freed with immediate effect, while urging citizens to remain calm and continue with their lawful activities. The statement did not clarify the circumstances or arrangements that led to the siblings’ release.
“The Gambia Police Force urges the public to remain calm and continue with their lawful activities,” the statement said, adding that the force remains committed to maintaining peace, security, and public order.
The development comes after tensions flared earlier in the day in Brufut, the hometown of the Bojang siblings, where groups of young demonstrators gathered to demand their release.
Witnesses reported clashes between protesters and police, who used tear gas to disperse crowds chanting slogans calling for the siblings’ freedom.
Some demonstrators were reportedly injured during the confrontation, while several others were arrested.
The protest had been mobilized following a call by the civil society organisation Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), which urged supporters to stage a peaceful gathering in Brufut over the continued detention of the siblings.
Ousainou Bojang and Amie Bojang were on Monday acquitted and discharged by Justice Jaiteh of the High Court in Banjul in a high-profile case linked to the fatal shooting of two police officers at the Sukuta–Jabang traffic lights in September 2023.
However, shortly after the ruling, state prosecutors informed the court of their intention to appeal the decision and requested an order for the siblings to remain in custody pending further legal proceedings. The court subsequently ordered their continued detention, leading to their transfer back to Mile Two Central Prison.
Their detention sparked public concern and protests, culminating in the unrest witnessed in Brufut before authorities later confirmed their release.
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