Head of rights organisation released

The head of Amnesty International (AI), Gambia section, Mohammed Lamin Sillah, was released on bail on Friday after four days in detention at Gambia's National Intelligence Agency (NIA). In a statement, AI welcomed Sillah's release but said it remained concerned by his arrest and incommunicado detention "that can only be seen as an attack on freedom of expression and human rights defenders in Gambia". Sillah had not been charged, AI said, adding that he was not ill-treated either, "but detention conditions in NIA are poor". He had been picked on 22 October by NIA officers for "questioning".

According to AI, at least 10 members of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) were detained on 15 October following fighting between UDP supporters and those of President Yahya Jammeh. At least 13 others have also been detained, since the election results were announced, for "unclear reasons". Some of these people were being detained incommunicado at the NIA and AI "remains concerned for their well-being". It called on the government to "promptly" release or charge those still detained, to ensure they are protected from ill-treatment and allowed access to their lawyers and other visitors. AI also urged the government to ensure that the law is applied equally and without political bias.