Omar Drammeh, a prominent youth delegate and chairperson of Activista URR, has publicly condemned the unlawful arrest, physical assault, and torture he endured at the hands of security forces after exposing electoral malpractice during the recent Regional Youth Congress (RYC) in Basse. The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage, has raised serious concerns about police conduct, human rights violations, and the integrity of youth electoral processes in the region.
Drammeh, representing the Cannon Youth Development Association as a congress delegate, alleges that he and other delegates uncovered significant irregularities in the electoral process overseen by the National Youth Council (NYC) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS).
According to Drammeh, 26 youth group representatives submitted forged certificates to participate in the Congress. After presenting verifiable documentation to contest the inclusion of these representatives, Drammeh and his colleagues demanded that the Congress be halted until the issue was resolved. However, their concerns were dismissed, and the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) Commander intervened, declaring that the Congress would proceed regardless of the objections.
“I stood up and told the PIU Commander that we were not listening to his decision,” Drammeh recounted. “Immediately after speaking, I was arrested without committing any crime. I was physically assaulted and tortured as I was dragged out of the hall to police custody.”
Drammeh described a harrowing ordeal at the hands of more than five PIU officers, who allegedly struck him repeatedly on the head with batons, dragged him across the floor to a vehicle, strangled him, and subjected him to degrading treatment, including reaching into his underwear. “These actions were a blatant violation of my human rights and an attack on democratic principles, including my freedom of expression,” Drammeh stated.
Despite the delegates’ efforts to ensure transparency, authorities allowed 14 flagged individuals to vote, while only 12 were disqualified, further fueling allegations of systemic fraud.
Drammeh’s arrest has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations, including the Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ), which condemned the incident.
“We have received reports alleging heavy-handedness by police in Basse at the Regional Youth Congress,” the EFSCRJ stated. “Omar Drammeh was forcefully arrested by PIU officers at the scene. Pictures and videos from our sources raise serious concerns about the conduct of the police. Unless delegates engage in armed or physical violence, they should not be arrested and removed from congress grounds, thereby denying them participation.”
The EFSCRJ called on the Regional Youth Council and the NYC to uphold their obligations to protect human rights and ensure free and fair elections. The organization also demanded that the Gambia Police Force clarify its role in Congress and address the reported misconduct. “We remain committed to defending human rights and holding all stakeholders accountable,” the EFSCRJ added.
Drammeh, who has since been released on bail and is required to report to the police station, remains steadfast in his resolve to seek justice. “This is not just about me,” he said. “It’s about ensuring that our democratic processes are transparent and that no one is silenced for speaking the truth.”
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about democracy and human rights in the Upper River Region, with activists and citizens calling for an independent investigation into the electoral irregularities and the conduct of security forces.
