GAMBIA: EFSCRJ Statement on the Arrest of a Former Military Officer Abdoulie Sanyang

We have noticed a press release from the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services announcing the arrest of one Abdoulie Sanyang, an ex-military officer, on 17 August 2025. The Government said his arrest was in connection with his interview on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez in which the release said the remarks he made “are considered to have significant national security implications.”

While national security is a priority that deserves protection, EFSCRJ wishes to remind the Government that citizens have a right to express their opinions on the security situation of the country which does not necessarily tantamount to breach of national security. Journalists and the media have a right to interview citizens and conduct programs to discuss national security which is a legitimate concern for everyone.

We are aware that across the world, governments frequently invoke “national security” as a justification to restrict freedoms, suppress dissent, and consolidate power. This framing allows authorities to label critics, journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition figures as threats to state stability, thereby criminalizing legitimate expression.

While we are reviewing the remarks of Abdoulie Sanyang in terms of the law and his rights, we wish to urge the Government to ensure that Mr. Sanyang’s rights are fully protected. He should not be subjected to any arbitrariness and abuse. He has a right to access family and lawyers immediately and be informed of the reasons for his arrest within three hours of the arrest. He should be charged as soon as practicably possible or released on reasonable bail conditions, and in any case not detained beyond 72 hours, as required by Section 19 of the 1997 Constitution.

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