YJAG Deeply Concerned Over Safety and Security of Former President

Demba Kandeh

The Young Journalists Association of The Gambia (YJAG) has expressed “concerned over the safety and security” of its former President, Assan Sallah who reportedly went missing since Wednesday 26^th June 2013. In a news release made available to FPI, the journalists’ organisation said “Family sources have also told YJAG that they have not heard from Mr. Sallah and could not reach him on phone since last week.  However, according to media reports, Sallah reportedly “fled to Senegal or is under arrest”.

Demand Investigation

“We are demanding that the government tells the public whether Mr Sallah is actually under arrest and if so why? And also if

MESSAGE: Protect Journalists, Promote Professionalism, Support Media Development (Photo Credit: MSJoof/Globe/FPI)

he had fled the country we also want to know matters leading to him leaving the country.

“Equally, YJAG is also calling on his employer the Daily Observer Company Ltd (where he was last seen by his colleagues) to endeavour to bring to light Sallah’s ordeal, and to clarify reports of his purported “imminent sacking”.

YJAG, whose aims and objectives includes protecting and promoting the welfare of young journalists in the country, also noted that it is in solidarity with Sallah’s family during “this difficult moment”.

In February 2013, Mr Sallah was arrested, detained overnight and grilled by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in connection to an earlier arrest of Alagie Jobe, a Deputy Editor-In-Chief of the Daily Observer who is currently under trial on multiple charges including sedition.

 

Ebrima Manneh (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In July, 2006, Daily Observer journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh went missing after he was reportedly arrested by officials of the NIA. The government has since denied holding him and his whereabouts remains unknown seven years on.

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Daily Observer: Two staffers released, one in custody

Assan Sallah, Daily Observer news editor and former YJAG President was detained overnight before released on bail (Photo credit: The North Bank Evening Standard)

By Modou S. Joof & Demba Kandeh

FPI has gathered that three staffers of the Daily Observer, Gambia’s biggest newspaper, were arrested and detained by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) last week.

The three are Alhagie Jobe, Editor-In-Chief, Assan Sallah, a news editor and Madikhan Jobarteh, who works at the production department of the paper.

Mr Jobe and Mr Jobarteh were reportedly arrested by the NIA on Thursday 7 February 2013. Whereas Jobarteh was released on bail later the same day but Jobe is still believed to be held at the NIA headquarters in Banjul. A source told FPI “no conditions are attached to Jobarteh’s release”.