In December 2016, Gambia will hold presidential elections. The run-up period is likely to be a testing time for human rights since previous experiences have shown that opposition members, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society organizations and voters face a high risk of serious human rights violations if they attempt to express dissenting opinions. This document highlights the case of UDP members that have been subjected to arbitrary detentions, excessive use of force and torture on several occasions, especially during a series of protests in April and May 2016.
ELECTIONS IN GAMBIA: A LONG HISTORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
In December 2016, Gambia will hold presidential elections.
The run-up period is likely to be a testing time for human rights since previous experiences have shown that opposition members, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society organizations and voters face a high risk of serious human rights violations if they attempt to express dissenting opinions.
During the 22 years of President Jammeh’s rule, human rights violations have been systematic in Gambia. Amnesty International has documented consistent patterns of violations, including enforced disappearances, torture, restrictions on freedom of expression, and arbitrary arrests and detention. Before the 2006 election, three UDP supporters were arrested and subjected to enforced disappearance. In 2011, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) refused to monitor that year’s presidential election due to “intimidation, an unacceptable level of control of the electronic media by the party in power, the lack of neutrality of state and para-statal institutions, and an opposition and electorate cowed by repression and intimidation”.