The Gambia: Two journalists arrested and charged with 'false publication' against the president

The editor-in-chief of The Voice Newspaper, Musa Sheriff Hydara and his deputy, Momodou Justice Darboe were interrogated by the police on 26 September, and detained on separate dates for 'false publication' against the president Adama Barrow over a story which claims that he has chosen a successor as part of his exit plan. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Gambia Press Union (GPU) in condemning these high handed tactics of intimidation, and urges the Gambian authorities to immediately and unconditionally drop the charges against the journalists and to allow them to continue their journalistic work.

The Voice Newspaper's journalists Musa Sheriff Hydara (left) and Momodou Justice Darboe (right). Credit: Gambia Press Union / The Voice Newspaper

On 26 September, Hydara and Darboe were summonedand interrogated separately for more than two hours at the police headquarters in the capital Banjul, just a day after President Barrow threatened the newspaper with defamation suits for allegedly publishing false news. TheVoice Newspaper published a storyon 23 September claimingthat the president was planning to step down ahead of the 2026 election and had chosen his successor as part of an exit plan. According to the police, the article "allegedly contains misleading information intended to cause public alarm."

Hydara was released on bail on the evening of 26 September and asked to report to the police on 27 September. The police also requested that the editor-in-chief hand over his newspaper's registration documents.

Darboe, who authored the story, was charged with "false publication and broadcasting" and detained overnight. While Darboe was released a day later and asked to report to the police on 30 September, on the same day Hydara was detained again and charged with "false publication and broadcasting". The charges against both journalists remain.

The journalists could face up to a minimum one-year imprisonment and a fine of up to D250, 000 (over 3,300€) for publishing an article that the government considers 'false news'. In 2018, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States recommendedto amend or repeal the Gambian law on False Publication and Broadcasting law.

According to the GPU, the story in question did not contain any defamatory statements. The media outlet also published responses from two senior officials of the president's party, on 24 September, refuting The Voice Newspaper's claims.

The GPU condemnedthe harassment of The Voice Newspaper's staff, who have done no wrong, and urged the police to drop all charges against both journalists with immediate effect. "The GPU condemns these intimidating tactics employed by the Barrow government using the police as was the norm during the dictatorship. We also condemn the harassment of The Voice Newspaper staff who have done no wrong, and urge the police to drop all charges against the journalists and release Hydara from custody immediately."

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "The summoning and detention of The Voice Newspaper journalists for their work is an act that harms press freedom.Recently, we are witnessing an increasing number of journalists being arrested and charged for allegedly publishing 'false news or false information'. Most governments are employing such obnoxious legislation to discredit the work of independent journalists or simply to try and silence journalists from telling the truth'. Such crude tactics that are aimed at weaponising the law against the media in order to suppress dissent have no place in a democratic society'".