Gambia’s public order act, a colonial law, requires people to apply for a permit from the police before doing a protest.
Gambian police have arrested 15 people for holding a peaceful protest demanding the resignation of President Adama Barrow after the end of his 3-year mandate promised to the electorates.
Barrow came to power on December 1, 2016 on the backing of 7 political parties and 3 independent candidates.
The Gambian leader made a promise to electorates that he would oversee a 3-year transition and resign after 3 years.
However, Barrow has now changed his mind and was quoted in the media declaring his intent to complete his constitutionally mandated 5-year term.
A movement calling itself “3 years jotna” has started the call for the President to respect his words and resign after 3 years.
The group took to the street at the tourism industrial area, Senegambia, on Friday monrning in protest.
Police spokesperson Lamin Njie told Kerr Fatou that the group did not even apply a permit to hold the protest as stipulated in country’s Public Order Act laws.
The 8 female and 8 males were arrested and taken to Kairaba Police Station where they were charged.
The 15 were later granted bail and are due to appear in court in the shortest possible time, said Njie.