The Gambia - September 2024

On 26 September, police arrested Musa Sekou Sheriff and Momodou Justice Darboe, two journalists from The Voice newspaper, after they reported on President Adama Barrow’s alleged exit plan and chosen successor, ahead of the 2026 elections. They were charged under Section 181A of the Criminal Code for false publication and broadcasting and required to report to the police daily. In addition to these criminal charges, President Barrow brought a civil defamation lawsuit against The Voice, with his lawyers describing the newspaper report as “defamatory” and “completely outrageous and untrue.” The Gambia Press Union condemned the arrests, calling for all charges to be dropped.

Update: On 4 November, The Office of the President announced that President Barrow had agreed to withdraw his civil defamation lawsuit against The Voice newspaper. According to Committee to Protect Journalists, the criminal charges against Musa Sekou Sheriff and Momodou Justice Darboe are expected to be dropped before the next hearing of their case, on 10 December.     

Sources: The Voice, Committee to Protect Journalists (1), Article19, The Africa Report, Gambiana, State House of The Gambia, Committee to Protect Journalists (2), West Africa Democracy Radio