Gambia UPDATE: Disappeared journalist case set for judgment

Gambia UPDATE: Disappeared journalist case set for judgment



The Community Court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria has set aside November 20, 2007 for judgment on the case against the Gambian government over the "disappearance" of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a reporter for the pro-government Banjul-based "Daily Observer" newspaper.

The three-man panel of judges took the decision following an argument made by counsel for Manneh, Nigerian human rights lawyer, Femi Falana. As usual, the Gambian government despite being duly served with the hearing notice through its High Commission in Abuja failed to appear.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) brought legal action at the Community Court demanding an order to compel the government of President Yahya Jammeh, to immediately release Manneh.

At the last hearing on July 16, 2007, the Gambia government failed to make an appearance and no explanation was given.

Manneh "disappeared" a week after the July 2006 African Union (AU) Heads of State summit in Banjul. Colleagues of Manneh witnessed his arrest by two plainclothes officers of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) at the premises of the "Daily Observer". Since then his whereabouts remain unknown and the Gambian Security agencies and police continue to deny holding him.

On July 26, 2007, Manneh was placed under guard of personnel of both the Police Intervention Unit (PIU), (a Para-military wing of the Gambian Police Force) and Prison Service at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH), the Gambia's main hospital, where he had been hospitalised for treatment of high blood pressure. Eye witnesses later reported to have seen him being transferred to a military clinic in Banjul.


Kwame Karikari, Prof.
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel : 233 21 24 24 70
Fax : 233 21 22 10 84