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Gambia News : Former minister criticizes Gambia government’s human rights record

Omar Jallow, a critic of the Jammeh administration, on Thursday said, “We wanted to disengage ourselves from the burden of oppression and suppression, which was why we sought independence from Britain. Now that we have independence, every Gambian should have been enjoying more freedom under the present regime than during the colonial period. But that is not the case”.

Jallow added that the government of The Gambia needs to redefine its economic, political and human rights policies to be in line with the realities of the 21st Century.

He remarked, “if The Gambia is properly managed, it can become one of the most successful countries in Africa”. He however said it is unfortunate that some Africans enjoy more freedom in the West than in their own countries.

He added, “We should have been the custodians of human rights because Africans are more violated than any people in the world. Therefore we should cherish our freedom.” He however lamented the fact that Africans were still having their human rights and freedoms violated on a daily basis by despotic regimes.