The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) has called on the Gambian government to ensure justice for Omar Badgie, a young man who died following alleged incidents of police brutality in Mandinari and Lamin on 26 and 27 September 2025.
Speaking during a visit to the family in Mandinari yesterday, the rights group said it was standing in solidarity with the grieving family and advocating for accountability. “We are here not only to pay our respects but to support the family in seeking justice,” the Centre said in a statement.
The EFSCRJ delegation met with Omar’s father, stepmother, uncles, aunts, siblings, and village committee members overseeing the case. According to the rights group, the family is still in deep grief and concerned about ensuring a proper investigation and autopsy. The delegation emphasized that the State has an obligation to protect citizens’ rights and provide transparent and accountable processes.
Executive Director Madi Jobarteh reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to supporting the family and ensuring due process is followed. “Poor families and communities should not have to endure such injustice and trauma,” Jobarteh said, urging the government to provide psychological and socio-economic support, keep the family informed, and ensure timely, accurate information reaches the public.
The group also stressed that broader systemic reforms are needed to prevent further incidents of police brutality, describing 2025 as the “Year of Transparency and Accountability.” EFSCRJ said it had written to the President and relevant authorities locally and internationally, demanding that the case be handled efficiently and in accordance with the law.
EFSCRJ said it will continue to engage with the family and stakeholders, monitoring the investigation to ensure justice for Omar and to push for stronger protections against police abuses in the future.