EU lawmakers meet Gambian MPs ahead of election

By Mustapha K. Darboe

BANJUL, Gambia

Members of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights met lawmakers in Gambia on Tuesday ahead of a presidential election to be held in the small West African nation on Dec. 1.

David Martin, Richard Howitt, Karol Karski, Judith Sargentini are the leading members of the EU mission which is expected to end Friday.

The MEPs will also meet opposition parties and the country’s electoral authorities.

On Tuesday, the delegates held a closed-door meeting with National Assembly members.

Gambia has seen rising political tension this year with the death in state custody of two opposition supporters and the jailing of the leader of the main opposition United Democratic Party, Ousainou Darboe.

The EU on May 10 this year adopted a resolution denouncing the human rights situation in the country and demanded an investigation into the deaths of opposition supporters.

The visiting delegates are scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday.