Yahya Jammeh Yields to Pressure as Journalists are Released

Yahya Jammeh President of The Gambia

On the 15th of August this year, Newstime Africa joined the international media calling for the release of six journalists who were detained unlawfully in the Gambia. The journalists were convicted of sedition and defamation and were sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. As a result of overwhelming international pressure, the Gambian President has decided to pardon the wrongfully convicted journalists. This is a victory for the international media who stood firm in their resolve and determination to ensure these journalists are freed.

In a statement published at the time on the Newstime Africa website, the publisher and Managing Editor, Ahmed M Kamara called for the immediate release of all the journalists, by the Gambian government. Mr Kamara went on to say that President Jammeh should understand the importance of the campaign by the international media to have the journalist freed and that the government of the Gambia should release them unconditionally and allow them to continue doing what they do best: To report the news as they see it.

Mr Kamara also reminded President Jammeh that he should take advantage of this golden opportunity and release the men, to show the world that he can be reasonable and that he can listen to the voice of the people. This action to release the journalists will indeed make a difference to the somewhat tarnished reputation Yayah Jammeh has earned himself in the past.

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