A Gambian man, Alieu Jaigne, has alleged he was forced to apologise for insulting President Adama Barrow and a cabinet minister Musa Drammeh.

Mr Jaigne was arrested after he allegedly entered Mr Drammeh’s multimillion dalasis mansion angrily following losing properties in the hands of thieves. He is said to put the blame on Barrow and his government for the country’s insecurity.

Following his detention, he claimed he was made to apologise to the president and minister which was recorded. 

In the video which was shared online by the civil society group, Democracy Watch Gambia, Mr Jaigne is apolosing for his action in front of a police officer in uniform. 

“I am apologising for insulting the President (Adama Barrow) and the minister (Musa Drammeh). I take full responsibility for my actions. I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have insulted even though (thieves) stole my properties,” he said in the video.

However, Democracy Watch Gambia reacted to the video as “disturbing”. 

“This is a very serious matter, which if allowed to go unchallenged will set yet again another adverse precedent. We urge NHRCGambia to investigate this harrowing violation by GambiaForce,” the group said on X, formerly Twitter.

Last week, the group criticised the country’s National Human Rights Commission over its complaint handling process.

“NHRC Gambia appears to be masking its failure to discharge the statutory mandate to consider and impartially investigate complaints of human rights violations.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba