Gambia: MEPs warn of sanctions over poor human rights

By Alieu Manneh

BANJU, Gambia

A group of European Union parliamentarians warned Gambia Thursday that it could face sanctions if its human rights situation does not improve.

“We are interested in having good relations with the Gambia. If, however, the human rights situation does not improve or even deteriorates, the European Parliament has indicated that there would be a need to consider targeted sanctions on officials responsible for serious human rights violations,” MEP David Martin told journalists.

Martin led a delegation from the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights on a four-day visit to the small West African nation that concluded Thursday.

“It has to become clear that important provisions of the Gambian constitution are still to be fully implemented, especially those on freedom of speech and prisoners’ rights. So the delegation also encourages the Gambian government to continue with its plan to establish a national human rights commission,” he added.

Martin said the purpose of the delegation’s visit was to “gather information, to influence the government to improve its human rights record, and to support human rights campaigners,” adding that they met with National Assembly members, opposition leaders, and other relevant figures.

But the delegation said government representatives “were not available” to meet with them.

Gambia has witnessed rising political tension in recent months since two members of the main opposition United Democratic Party died in state custody and their leader, Ousainou Darboe, and over three dozen party members were sent to jail for holding a peaceful demonstration.

This May the European Parliament passed a resolution denouncing Gambia’s human rights situation and demanding an investigation of the deaths of opposition supporters.

The MEPs’ visit came ahead of December presidential polls in which President Yahya Jammeh is seeking a fifth term.