Gambian Journalist Charged After Court Arrest Raises Press Freedom Concerns

March 22, 2026, – Gambia –

A Gambian journalist has been arrested and charged with common assault after photographing defendants outside a courtroom in Banjul, in a case that has drawn condemnation from press freedom organizations and renewed concerns about intimidation of journalists in The Gambia.

Momodou Justice Darboe, editor of Jollof News Online, was arrested on March 11, 2026, at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court after covering a case involving two Austrian nationals accused of disobeying lawful orders. According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Gambia Press Union (GPU), Darboe took a photograph of the two defendants as they were leaving the courtroom, an act that is not prohibited under Gambian law when done outside court premises.

The situation escalated when Darboe was reportedly confronted from behind by Abdoulie Sanneh, the Commissioner for Police Prosecutions, who allegedly grabbed his phone and injured his hands in the process. Darboe was then detained at Banjul Police Station for around six hours before being granted self-bail and charged with assaulting a police officer. Under The Gambia’s Penal Code, the charge could carry a prison sentence of up to one year.

Press freedom advocates have strongly criticized the arrest, arguing that Darboe was simply carrying out legitimate journalistic work in the public interest. The IFJ described the incident as an act of intimidation and harassment, while the GPU called on police to immediately drop the charge and remove the bail conditions requiring Darboe to report regularly to the police station.

The case has raised broader concerns about how journalists are treated while reporting on judicial and public affairs in The Gambia. Although the country has made progress in press freedom since the end of Yahya Jammeh’s rule, local and international observers have continued to warn that journalists still face harassment, arbitrary detention, and pressure when covering sensitive stories.

For media rights groups, Darboe’s arrest reflects a troubling pattern in which state actors use force or legal threats to obstruct routine reporting. They argue that criminalizing ordinary newsgathering not only endangers individual journalists but also weakens the public’s access to information.

As calls for accountability continue, the case is likely to become another test of whether The Gambia’s authorities are prepared to uphold the country’s stated commitments to press freedom and democratic reform.

Reference –

https://ifex.org/gambian-journalist-cuffed-outside-court-and-charged/

https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/newsletters/detail/the-gambia-journalist-arrested-and-charged-with-common-assault/category/press-freedom