Brussels, 12/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - Underlining its “deepest concern” over the rapidly worsening security and human rights situation in The Gambia, the European Parliament said in Thursday 12 that the European Union and its member states should consider freezing all non-humanitarian assistance to the government of The Gambia and imposing “targeted sanctions on officials responsible for serious human rights abuses”.
In a resolution that was adopted by a comfortable majority, MEPs condemn “the forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture and other human rights violations” targeted at voices of dissent against the government of President Yahya Jammeh. They call for the immediate release of all protestors arrested in relation to the 14 and 16 April demonstrations for electoral reform (see EUROPE 11534). They argue that the international community should monitor the presidential election scheduled for December 2016.
Parliament also calls on the government of The Gambia to engage in genuine dialogue with all opposition political parties on legislative and policy reforms that will ensure a free and fair election and to guarantee full respect for freedom of expression and freedom of the press. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)