By Kemo Kanyi
The opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) has called for the unconditional release of members of Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) who were recently arrested, amid growing tensions between security forces and youth activists.
Speaking on Friday, GDC leader Mamma Kandeh expressed concern over what he described as an increasingly heavy-handed response by law enforcement to peaceful assemblies.
“I urge the government to reconsider their approach on the youths because there cannot be a selective approach to similar matters. The police are an institution and continued trends like this will result in loss of public trust,” Kandeh remarked.
He said the arrests followed GALA members’ attempt to mark their first anniversary at a venue reportedly approved by the Kanifing Municipal Council, questioning what he termed “selective enforcement” by authorities.
Kandeh further alleged that the crackdown on the group involved excessive use of force and arbitrary arrests, arguing that such actions undermine human rights and public confidence in state institutions.
He added that criminalizing peaceful gatherings risked discouraging youth civic engagement, stressing that disputes of this nature should be handled through dialogue and procedural fairness.
The GDC leader called for greater transparency and fairness in policing to strengthen trust between citizens and law enforcement agencies.
