Police have warned organisers of a planned protest in Banjul on Monday (22 August) not to go ahead with it. 

In a statement the police said that they are “deeply concerned with the security implications with regard to the planned protest especially during this difficult period when residents of the city are recovering from the recent flashfloods.”

“The IGP would like to bring to the attention of the general public, particularly those behind the planned protest, that no permit request had been received nor issued by the police for such public show of protest to take place in the capital city, Banjul,” the statement added.

They urged the public not “to take part in an unauthorised procession and refrain from any unlawful assembly or protest.”

A Banjul group calling itself “We the Arr Banjul Movement” has announced on social media that it will stage a protest on Monday (22 August) to raise awareness on environmental concerns in Banjul. 

“We will be out  to reclaim our right to live without being threaten by our city deteriorating situation, our right to breathe without being polluted and our right to exist in our native land without being jeopardise by selfish capitalist interest,” one of the protest organisers Amadou Wurry said on a Facebook post.

He added: “This is all being denied to us because of inefficient personnels that gives more deference to industrial and financial objectives rather than environmental standards.”

The group said they will be petitioning the government to de-industrialise the Tanbi wetland in Banjul and to protect the city from sea rises and floods.