Emmanuel Daniel Joof, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), is under intense pressure to resign following a controversial meeting aimed at influencing Mustapha K. Darboe, Editor-in-Chief of The Republic, to issue a statement exonerating former Justice Minister Abubacarr Baa Tambadou. The secretive May 6, 2025, meeting at the NHRC office in Kotu has sparked outrage over allegations of intimidation and abuse of power.
Joof, alongside Media Council of The Gambia (MCG) Executive Secretary Bai Emil Touray and MCG Chairperson Baboucarr Cham, summoned Darboe without disclosing the purpose of the meeting. The trio addressed a The Republic story about Tambadou, a former Justice Minister and a nominee for a judgeship at the International Court of Justice, claiming it caused public confusion and was perceived as an indictment of the former minister. They alleged the story’s timing was harmful, suggested Darboe was paid to publish it, and pressed him to release a joint statement clarifying that Tambadou was not indicted. Darboe rejected the proposal.
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) condemned the meeting as an attempt to intimidate the Republic, asserting that the story complied with the Cherno Jallow Charter of Ethics for Journalists. The GPU called for Touray’s removal from his MCG role and urged the NHRC and MCG to cease intimidating Darboe, recommending that ethical concerns be addressed through the MCG’s Ethics Panel.
Critics argue Joof’s involvement compromises the NHRC’s impartiality, prompting demands for his resignation. “Joof’s actions undermine press freedom and human rights principles.”
The NHRC has not responded to the allegations, and Joof’s position remains uncertain as public scrutiny intensifies. The incident has reignited debates about the independence of Gambia’s regulatory bodies and the protection of journalistic integrity.
