By Ebrima Mbaye
Tensions escalated in Kanifing over the weekend as 23 young Gambians remain detained following protests against the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) controversial decision to impose a D50 per gigabyte price floor on mobile data. The arrests, made on charges of unlawful assembly, have sparked outrage among civil society groups, who accuse authorities of stifling dissent over a policy critics say prioritizes telecom profits over public welfare.
The protests, led by Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), Team Gom Sa Bopa, and the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ), began on Friday, August 22, 2025, outside PURA’s headquarters in Kanifing. Nineteen youths, including activists like Ali Cham (Killa Ace), Yusef Taylor, and Fallou Gallas Ceesay, were arrested during a peaceful demonstration with no procession or sound system. The group aimed to deliver a petition demanding the suspension of PURA’s price floor, transparency on its cost model, and improved internet service quality. Riot police intervened, detaining the protesters across Kairaba, Kanifing, Kotu, and Bakoteh stations.
On Saturday, August 23, four more activists—Ebrima Jallow (The Ghetto Pen), Musa Sanyang, Ebrima Keita (Professor the Poet), and another—were arrested at Westfield during a follow-up protest calling for their comrades’ release. The total number of detainees now stands at 23, with most held at Kairaba Police Station. Lawyer Assan Martin, representing the detainees, described the arrests as “illegal and unacceptable,” noting that while bail was offered for Friday’s detainees, the conditions were overly restrictive, requiring a surety. Those arrested on Saturday remain ineligible for bail as police continue investigations, with possible court hearings looming on Monday.
In a bold act of defiance, 21 of the 23 detainees rejected bail conditions, demanding unconditional release. At Kotu, Gallas Ceesay, Lamin Sey, Ansoumana Touray, and Lamin FM Marigo refused bail, while only Bakary Jammeh and Badou Secka accepted due to health concerns. At Bakoteh and Kanifing, Killa Ace, Flex Dan, and Abdoulie T. Bah followed suit, turning detention cells into a stage for civil disobedience. GALA’s statement on Saturday underscored this resolve: “They have collectively and unequivocally refused to accept the terms of their release, choosing to remain in detention rather than comply with excessively restrictive and unjust demands.
The protests stem from PURA’s August 19 announcement of a D50 per gigabyte price floor, a 243% increase from prior promotional rates as low as D13.33 per gigabyte. PURA defends the measure, citing network congestion and the need for sustainable investment, but critics, including the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, argue it burdens low-income households. “This price floor is a betrayal of the Gambian people,” said Yusef Taylor before his arrest, highlighting its impact on education, employment, and civic engagement.
The Solo Sandeng Foundation condemned the arrests, invoking the memory of the activist murdered in 2016 for protesting. “It’s unacceptable that young people are still arrested for exercising their constitutional rights,” the Foundation stated, demanding the detainees’ immediate release and a review of PURA’s policy.
