Protests violently repressed in Kanilai

Peaceful Assembly

On 2nd June, clashes erupted between supporters of former president, Yayha Jammeh, and security forces from the ECOWAS mission in Gambia as well as the Gambian army. Jammeh's supporters marched in Kanilai, a village in southern Gambia and Jammeh's birth place, to protest the presence of ECOWAS troops in the region and call for their departure. One person was killed and five injured when security forces opened fire on the protesters. 

According to Minister of the interior Ahmad Fatty, 22 people were arrested in connection with the 2nd June protests, some of whom were released on bail on 8th June with charges of unlawful assembly and incitement of violence. The authorities opened an investigation in search of Edouard Jammeh and Sainey Sané, brother and half-brother of former president Yayha Jammeh, and the village chief, who authorities consider instigators of the 2nd June protests.

President Adama Barrow condemned the incident and warned that he "will not accept the violence, lack of respect for authorities and rule of law", but declared his commitment to democracy, freedom, rule of law and reconciliation in the country. Minister of Interior Ahmad Fatty considers the protest action as an act of provocation against security forces.