Gambia: Treatment of friends, relatives and associates of Omar Joof, the head of the Gambia Students Union (GAMSU) following 10 April 2000 protest; whether someone suspected of being involved in GAMSU and in student protest would be allowed to leave the country (April 2000-September 2002)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 30 September 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GMB39223.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Gambia: Treatment of friends, relatives and associates of Omar Joof, the head of the Gambia Students Union (GAMSU) following 10 April 2000 protest; whether someone suspected of being involved in GAMSU and in student protest would be allowed to leave the country (April 2000-September 2002) , 30 September 2002, GMB39223.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d9c23.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Specific information on the treatment of friends, relatives and associates of Omar Joof, the former head of the Gambia Students Union (GAMSU) and on whether someone suspected of being involved in GAMSU and in a student protest would be allowed to leave the country could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, two Gambian newspapers reported that Omar Joof, the former GAMSU president, lives in exile in Dakar, Senegal (The Independent 9 Aug. 2002; ibid. 12 Apr. 2002; ibid. 7 Sept. 2001; ibid. 6 Aug. 2001; The Daily Observer 12 Sept. 2000).
Referring to recommendations made by the commission of inquiry established in the "breakdown of public order on 10th and 11th April [2000] and the coroner's report into the deaths of 12 people", Gambia News noted that:
[S]even students who form part of GAMSU leadership may be prosecuted under the Public Order Act, because they took the decision on 7th April to organise what they referred to as a peaceful march to be held on Monday 10th April. The seven are Omar Joof (president); Alhaji S. Darboe (vice-president); Alasan Ceesay (treasurer); Daniel Davies (assistant secretary-general); Baboucarr Ann (secretary, advisory committee); Mamud Njie (assistant chairman, advisory committee); and Alieu Khan (president, Gambia College Sub-Union) (29 Jan. 2001).
Citing the Gambian government's reactions, the same source of information added that the "the spirit of reconciliation will be further strengthened and enhanced by [the government's] decision not to prosecute anyone, be it student or otherwise, for any matter arising out of the breakdown of public order on 10th and 11th April 2000" (Gambia News 29 Jan. 2001).
Sources indicate that a dozen persons were killed during a 10-11 April 2000 student demonstration while a large number of students were arrested by the Gambian police (BBC 11 Apr. 2000; AI 12 Apr. 2000; Country Reports 2001 2002, sect. 1c).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International (AI). 12 April 2000. "Gambia: Fourteen People Killed and at Least 28 Injured." (AI Index: AFR 27/10/00). London: Amnesty International.
BBC News. 11 April 2000. "Protests at Gambia Killings." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. Daily Observer [Banjul]. 12 September 2000. Lamina Jatta. "Gambia; Ex-GAMSU Executive Calls on Omar Joof To Return." (NEXIS)
Gambia News [Banjul]. 29 January 2001. "Government Decides 'No Prosecution' Over Events of 10th and 11th April Last Year." The Independent [Banjul]. 9 August 2002. "Gambia; GAMSU Congress Elect New President." (Africa News/NEXIS)
_____. 12 April 2002. "Gambia; Omar Joof Renews Attack On Gov't." (Africa News/NEXIS)
_____. 7 September 2001. "Gambia; As GAMSU Leadership Changes, Omar Joof Admonishes New Executive." (Africa News/NEXIS)
_____. 6 August 2001. "Gambia; GAMSU Congress 2001: Special Report." (Africa News/NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential May 2000-July 2002.
Africa Research Bulletin May 2000-June 2002.
L'Autre Afrique January-August 2002.
IRB Databases.
Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent 2001-September 2002.
Keesing's Record of World Events 2001-2002.
LEXIS/NEXIS.
Resource Centre country file. Gambia.
West Africa 2001-2002.
Websites, including:
Amnesty International.
BBC Africa.
FIDH.
HRW.
MISNA.
Reliefweb.
