Africans Rising, an advocacy group dedicated to unity, justice, peace, and dignity, has issued a strong condemnation of the unlawful arrest and reported mistreatment of 19 peaceful protesters in The Gambia. The incident occurred during demonstrations against the Public Utility Regulation Authority’s attempt to impose anti-people internet data tariffs.
The protests, which included renowned activist and artist Killa Ace, were violently dispersed by the Gambian Police Force, leading to the detention of the participants. Africans Rising asserts that the right to peaceful assembly and protest is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of any democratic society. The organization highlights that the actions of the Gambian government and its security agencies violate the commitments outlined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, particularly the freedoms of speech, organization, and political association.
In a press statement released today, Africans Rising emphasized that suppressing dissent erodes trust in public institutions and weakens democracy. The group joins progressive movements in The Gambia to demand immediate and unconditional release of all 19 detained protesters, urgent medical attention for those injured while in custody, and an end to the harassment and criminalization of peaceful assembly.
The statement describes the arrest and abuse of the protesters as an attack on democratic freedoms and an affront to the principles of transparency, accountability, and justice. “Africans will not stand by in silence while the rights and dignity of the people are trampled upon,” the statement reads.
Africans Rising calls on the Gambian government to hold public institutions accountable, asserting that this is not a crime but the lifeblood of democratic governance. The organization urges security agencies to respect the rights of citizens and uphold the democratic duty to protect, rather than suppress, public expression.
