After 23 advocates were arrested outside PURA for attempting to submit a petition against the PURA price floor, the police detained and continue to prosecute us and our fellow advocates for unlawful assembly. Instead of allowing Gambians to petition public institutions established by law to hear consumers’ concerns, this government has chosen to prosecute peaceful protesters for exercising their fundamental rights.
Contrary to President Adama Barrow’s claims that his government respects citizens’ rights to protest, his government has proven to be hostile to peaceful demonstrations by utilizing the police to crack down on dissenting voices selectively. Even after detaining our advocates in Mile 2 for what could be described as bailable misdemeanours at worst, the coalition remains focused on the suspension of the data price floor, which has placed an unbearable burden on Gambians.
This is in addition to the expensive electricity tariffs, commonly known as cash power.
At the latest Mansa Kunda Town Hall meeting held on 3rd October 2025 at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, the Minister for Communications and Digital Economy was asked what the government is doing about the high cost of data.
In response, Minister Lamin Jabbi revealed that “a committee that was constituted to look at tariff issues has just submitted its report, which will be tabled to the cabinet. And something good is there for the people of this country, I can assure you of that.”
Given that the report has been submitted, in the spirit of transparency and public trust, the report should be made public, and the cabinet should make a decision without delay. Gambians have already endured over 49 days of expensive data tariffs in addition to the rising cost of living.
It is important for the government to demonstrate that it is a functioning government capable of making decisions for the benefit of the population, regardless of whether the head of state is on an extended leave.
Finally, we wish to inform the public that although government ministers continue to issue hollow calls for dialogue, no official invitation has been issued to any of our organizations. Instead, the government continues to prosecute advocates.
In this regard, we remind the government that the continued abrogation of our rights to peacefully assemble will not deter us from demanding our rights. We call on the government to drop all charges of unlawful assembly and to respect citizens’ rights. Only then will we entertain any calls for dialogue.
By Coalition of Civil Society Advocates on PURA Data Price Floor, 10th October 2025
Signed:
Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ),
Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA),
Team Gom Sa Bopa
