On Wednesday, 12 May 2026, fourteen members of the Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) movement appeared before the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court (Greater Banjul Area) after being held in custody over the weekend. Among them were Hakeem Touray, Omar Camara, Omar Sanyang, Abdoulie T. Bah, and Alieu Sarr… They were granted bail. These arrests followed a peaceful gathering held on 8 May at Westfield (Serekunda) to mark the first anniversary of the movement.

The arrests occurred on the day of the opening of the “NGO Forum,” a platform bringing together civil society organisations and human rights defenders to strengthen collaboration and advocate for human rights. They also took place just days before the opening of the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).

The GALA movement is a citizen initiative led by young Gambians, born out of concerns regarding public fund management and governance. In July 2025, thousands of Gambians protested across the country in one of the largest anti-corruption mobilisations in the nation’s recent history. The demonstrators demanded greater transparency regarding the management of assets confiscated from former President Yahya Jammeh, following a report revealing opaque property sales.

AfricTivistes reminds us that the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression are pillars of any democracy and are guaranteed by Article 25 of The Gambia’s Constitution. Their exercise cannot be equated with an attempt to destabilise when conducted in accordance with existing laws.

AfricTivistes expresses our concern regarding the conditions that led to these arrests, as well as the treatment of these activists engaged in promoting transparency, good governance, and public accountability.

The Gambia is set to hold its second presidential election in December since the end of Yahya Jammeh’s dictatorship, a crucial appointment for the consolidation of the rule of law. In this pre electoral context, any authoritarian drift, arrests of activists, intimidation of civil society and restrictions on fundamental freedoms pose a threat to the democratic gains of the country.

Therefore, we call on the Gambian authorities to protect fundamental rights and preserve an open civic space. We also urge them to prioritise dialogue with civil society organisations. Democratic consolidation in The Gambia depends on the protection of civil liberties and respect for the role of youth and citizen organisations.

Finally, we emphasise the necessity of ensuring free, transparent and peaceful elections to consolidate the democratic gains achieved since the transition.

We express our solidarity with all citizen actors engaged in The Gambia and elsewhere on the continent for the defence of social justice and democracy.