08/05/2026
STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL YOUTH PARLIAMENT – THE GAMBIA ON THE ARBITRARY ARREST OF MEMBERS OF GAMBIA AGAINST LOOTED ASSETS (GALA)
The National Youth Parliament – The Gambia (NYP) unequivocally condemns the arbitrary arrest and detention of members of Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) ahead of their planned commemoration marking one year of civic advocacy and public engagement.
As confirmed through direct communication with the National Coordinator of GALA, six young people were arrested by officers of The Gambia Police Force as early as 12:00pm; three hours before the scheduled commencement of the event at 3:00pm. At the time of their arrest, no activity had even begun. No breach of peace had occurred. No unlawful conduct had been reported. No public disorder had been established.
This was not crowd control.
This was not law enforcement.
This was premeditated suppression of peaceful civic engagement.
The organisers had already obtained authorization from the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), the legally recognized custodian and authority responsible for the Youth Monument. The decision by the police to proceed with arrests despite this authorization reflects a disturbing pattern of institutional overreach and disregard for constitutional freedoms.
The Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of assembly, association, and expression. These rights are not ceremonial provisions to be referenced only in speeches and democratic forums; they are enforceable constitutional guarantees that bind every institution of the state, including the police.
There exists no lawful basis for the continued harassment and intimidation of citizens merely for organising peaceful civic activities. The growing tendency to treat peaceful assembly as a privilege requiring arbitrary police approval is not only legally questionable, but fundamentally dangerous to democratic development.
The actions of the police in this matter amount to an assault on civic space and a direct confrontation with the democratic values and rule of law principles that Gambians have collectively struggled to rebuild and protect.
Young people cannot be encouraged to participate in governance, accountability, transparency, and national development on one hand, while being arrested, intimidated, and criminalised for peacefully organising on the other.
The National Youth Parliament is particularly alarmed by the implications of these arrests for youth civic participation in The Gambia. The Youth Monument is a public democratic space symbolically associated with youth engagement and national participation. Arresting young people before their event even commenced sends a chilling message to an entire generation of citizens attempting to engage peacefully in public life.
We therefore demand:
• The immediate and unconditional release of all detained members of GALA;
• A public explanation from The Gambia Police Force regarding the legal grounds upon which these arrests were made;
• Accountability for any abuse of authority or violation of constitutional rights committed in the process;
• An immediate end to arbitrary restrictions, intimidation, and harassment targeting youth-led civic engagement;
• Respect for the constitutional rights and democratic freedoms guaranteed to all citizens under the laws of The Gambia.
Democracy cannot coexist with selective enforcement of rights.
Rule of law cannot survive where institutions act outside the law they are mandated to protect.
Civic participation cannot flourish under intimidation.
The National Youth Parliament stands in full solidarity with GALA and all young people committed to peaceful civic action, transparency, accountability, and democratic participation.
The future of this country cannot be built by silencing its young people.
Signed,
National Youth Parliament – The Gambia
