The Gambia

(MFWA/IFEX) – Lamin Dibba, a journalist for the pro-government “Daily Observer” newspaper, was dismissed on 22 June 2007 by management of the media company that owns the paper. A Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) source indicated that although no reasons were given for the journalist’s dismissal, it was apparently linked to a story he […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria has issued a hearing notice for a suit filed against the Republic of Gambia by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on behalf of a “disappeared” Gambian journalist, Chief Ebrima Manneh, reporter of pro-government Banjul-based […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – Lamin Fatty, a reporter with the banned newspaper “The Independent”, who was convicted of publishing false information, has filed an appeal at a High Court in Banjul against his conviction. MFWA sources indicated that Lamin S. Camara, counsel for Fatty, appealed against the ruling immediately after the judge delivered it on 5 June […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – Lamin Fatty, a reporter for the banned Banjul-based “The Independent” newspaper charged with publishing false information, was on June 5, 2007 convicted and fined 50,000 Gambian Dalasi (approx. US$1,850). The Kanfing Magistrate Court ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt and that the journalist was guilty of false […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – Lamin Fatty, a reporter with the banned Banjul-based bi-weekly “The Independent”, who is standing trial at the Kanifing Magistrate’s Court for publishing “false information”, on 21 May 2007 denied ever publishing any “false information”. The journalist told the court that, as a reporter, he only gathered facts and submitted them to the editors […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 18 May 2007, Fabakarr Ceesay, a reporter with the pro-opposition bi-weekly “Foroyaa Newspaper”, was arrested and threatened by an officer of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU), a paramilitary wing of the Gambia Police Force, while covering a student demonstration. Ceesay was threatened with death and detained for about 45 minutes at the […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – A magistrate in Kanifing, a district in Serrekunda, Gambia’s largest city, ruled on 11 April 2007 that his court had the jurisdiction to hear a criminal case against US-based Gambian journalist, Fatou Jaw Manneh, after her lawyer argued that the case fell outside the court’s jurisdiction. Magistrate Buba Jawo disagreed with defence lawyer […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 4 April 2007 CPJ press release: U.S.-based journalist charged with sedition over critical commentary New York, April 4, 2007 – A court in the capital Banjul today handed down criminal charges to a U.S.-based journalist, detained since last week by state intelligence agents, and released her on bail in […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of freelance journalist and pro-democracy activist Fatou Jaw Manneh, who was arrested by the National Intelligence Agency on 28 March 2007 on her arrival at Banjul international airport. “No warrants or court appearances, a disregard for legality and a complete lack of transparency – these […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – One year ago, 28 March 2006, the Gambian government forcibly shut down the offices of “The Independent”, a Banjul-based bi-weekly newspaper. At the time of the closure, no explanation was offered, neither has the newspaper been allowed to resume publication. On 28 March 2006, a week after the government announced a foiled coup, […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 9 March 2007 IFJ media release: IFJ Urges The Gambia To Respect Press Freedom After Cases Launched against Media Workers, Newspaper The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today warned of increased pressure on media in The Gambia after the launching of two recent court cases against journalists at the […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – Two journalists in the Gambia, Modou Sonko, head of the lithographic section of “Daily Observer”, a pro-government Banjul-based newspaper, and Isaac Success, production assistant with “Daily Express”, a privately-owned newspaper, were on 3 March 2007 arrested by personnel from the notorious National Intelligence Agency (NIA). Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources say […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 21 February 2007, for the first time during the eight-month disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a reporter of the pro-government Banjul-based newspaper “Daily Observer”, the Gambia Police Force officially denied ever arresting him. Reacting to MFWA’s continuous demands for the release of Manneh, the most recent of which was published in “The […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – The following is a 16 February 2007 MFWA press release: Justice for tortured Gambian journalist The government of President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia and its agents during last year (2006, an election year) launched another phase of their long-standing repressive campaign against the independent media and journalists in the country. This campaign, […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – Two journalists, Lamin Dibba and Ebrima Jaw Manneh, of the “Daily Observer”, a Banjul-based pro-government daily newspaper, were dismissed by the newspaper’s management on 7 February 2007. Although the reason for their dismissal is unclear, MFWA sources indicated that the two journalists were accused of writing a story in a way that deliberately […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – Chief Ebrima B. Manneh, a journalist working with the “Daily Observer”, a pro- government daily newspaper, was located on 12 January 2007 for the first time since his arrest by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), more than six months ago. Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources say he is being held in […]