In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, prominent United Democratic Party (UDP) senior executive and lawyer Borry S. Touray has been denied bail and remanded in police custody at the Police Headquarters in Banjul, following his formal charging with incitement to violence.
The development came hours after Touray’s appearance at Kairaba Police Station, where he was questioned about remarks he made at a UDP political gathering in Jambur. Police sources confirmed the charges, alleging that Touray’s statements—described by the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) as calls for “civil disorder” and “violence to regain control”—posed a threat to public order ahead of the 2026 presidential elections.
Touray’s legal team, led by Counsel LS Camara, engaged in protracted bail negotiations throughout the day. Despite assurances of compliance and a lack of flight risk, authorities refused the request, citing the gravity of the accusations. “After exhaustive discussions, we were unable to reach an agreement. Mr. Touray will remain in custody for the rest of the day and potentially longer, pending further directives,” Camara told reporters outside the headquarters.
The UDP swiftly denounced the decision as a “blatant abuse of state power,” linking it directly to the NPP’s public condemnation of Touray’s speech and subsequent “defamatory” coverage by the state-owned Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS). In a statement earlier this week, the UDP warned of the “creeping politicization of state institutions,” evoking memories of authoritarian tactics under the former Jammeh regime.
“We view this detention as a calculated move to silence opposition voices and intimidate our members,” said UDP
“Borry Touray’s words were a passionate critique within democratic bounds, not incitement. This is an assault on free speech and the rule of law.”
The NPP, meanwhile, has doubled down, demanding Touray’s unconditional apology for what they termed “inflammatory insults” against President Adama Barrow and non-UDP supporters, including derogatory references to critics as “non-halal dingos.” The party hailed the police action as a necessary safeguard against “reckless utterances” that could incite chaos.
Civil society groups are divided. The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCJR) condemned Touray’s remarks as “incendiary”. It urged the UDP to dissociate itself and called on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to enforce electoral codes of conduct. Conversely, human rights advocates, including the Gambia Bar Association, expressed alarm over the bail denial, arguing it sets a dangerous precedent for pre-trial detention in political cases.
Touray, a seasoned lawyer and UDP Administrative Secretary for Legal Affairs, has a history of defending opposition figures, including high-profile sedition cases. His detention marks the latest flashpoint in a heated pre-electoral landscape, where rhetoric has grown increasingly sharp. No court date has been set, but legal experts anticipate a bail hearing within 48 hours.
As night fell on Banjul, UDP supporters gathered outside the headquarters in a show of solidarity, chanting for justice. The incident underscores deepening rifts between the opposition and the Barrow administration, raising fears of eroded democratic norms in The Gambia.
