Gambia must end 'brutal crackdown' or face Ecowas expulsion, says Amnesty International

Protests in Gambia — People demonstrate in Banjul, on 16 April, following the death of an opposition figure Stringer/AFP/Getty

Gambian authorities must put a halt to a brutal crackdown on freedom of speech that has resulted in the arrest of dozens of people who demanded political changes, a rights group has urged. Amnesty International claimed the country should face suspension from the Economic Community Of West African States (Ecowas) unless it ends a "brutal repression" months ahead of a presidential election, which will be held on 1 December.

Hundreds of people have been calling for electoral reform and political change in the Gambia. Authorities deemed the protests, started on 14 April, illegal as demonstrators failed to obtain permission from the police.

As a result, at least 50 people were arrested. It is feared that Solo Sandeng, secretary of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), died alongside two others while being held in detention. Human rights groups have so far confirmed on 18 April that Sandeng had died.

Under hashtags such as #GambiaRising, Gambians are also involved in social media campaigns that aim to shed light on abuses which have allegedly occurred.

"Gambia's elections are just six months away and yet opposition members are arrested and beaten, journalists are muzzled, and civil society muted," said Alioune Tine, Amnesty International regional director for West and Central Africa. "Gambia has a long and brutal history of repression of critical voices, and demonstrators such as Solo Sandeng have paid a high price for peaceful protest."

Cars drive by a campaign poster of Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, in Banjul, in November 2011 Getty

Trial and torture allegations

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe and 19 others are standing trial in connection to the April protest. The defendants were denied bail after being charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and had previously been charged with assembling unlawfully, as well as rioting, inciting violence and interfering with vehicles. They all pleaded not guilty.

In a public address to the nation on 18 May, President Yahya Jammeh defined members of the Gambian opposition as "opportunistic people supported by the West". He added: "I will bow to only Allah and my mother. I will never tolerate opposition to destabilise this country."

Reasons behind protests

In power since 1994, President Yahya Jammeh has been accused of undermining an effective opposition by raising the costs to register a political party.

Under the new law, anyone who wants to register a political party or run as presidential candidate has to pay 500,000 dalasis (£8,240, $11,870). Critics argue it undermines pluralism in the economically-stagnant country, where nearly 50% of the population still live in poverty.

The government said the law was necessary to ensure parties were properly organised. However, protesters are calling for electoral changes and the stepping down of Jammeh.