The Gambia Bar Association (GBA) has expressed alarm over the State’s decision to re-arrest and detain Ousainou Bojang and Amie Bojang shortly after they were acquitted and discharged of all charges by the High Court.

In a statement dated 1 April 2026, the Bar said the move followed the State’s announcement of its intention to appeal the judgment delivered on 30 March, despite the court granting the siblings bail.

According to the GBA, Ousainou and Amie Bojang were released from Mile II Central Prison on 31 March in compliance with a court order delivered by the High Court’s bailiff.

However, widely circulated social media footage shows the pair being taken away from the prison premises by armed police officers in riot gear and transported to the Gambia Police Force headquarters.

The Bar described their subsequent return to Mile II Prison without a court order as unlawful, warning that such actions amount to a violation of their constitutional rights and a direct affront to the authority of the court.

It further noted that the incident echoes practices associated with the Jammeh era, where individuals acquitted by courts were re-arrested, raising concerns about a potential erosion of the rule of law.

While acknowledging that the siblings have since been released, the GBA cautioned the State to ensure that all police actions are firmly grounded in the law and constitutional principles.

The association also called on the Attorney General to uphold his responsibility as chief legal adviser and ensure that no individual is detained without a valid court order.

It added that the Inspector General of Police must be held accountable for the actions of officers involved in the re-arrest and detention, stressing the need for urgent security and justice sector reforms.