The Gambian leader Adama Barrow has granted presidential pardon to 57 prisoners as a goodwill gesture for the Muslim feast of Eid al Fitr. 

The pardoned prisoners included 41 Gambians, 10 Senegalese, three Guineans (Conakry), two Nigerians, and one Indian.

All the non-Gambians are due to be deported.

A statement from State House signed by Government spokesman Ebrima G Sankareh said: 

“His Excellency the President of the Republic Mr Adama Barrow, pursuant to the powers vested in him under section 82(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, 1997 and the long-standing custom for the President to grant perogative of mercy on deserving convicted prisoners, granted pardon to fifty-seven (57) prisoners in commemoration of the Muslims feast of Eid al Fitr.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba