Halifa Sallah, the National Assembly member for Serekunda, has been praised for his mediation efforts during riots in the Greater Banjul Area.

Mr Sallah was involved with negotiations on Wednesday when angry protesters clashed with police at Serekunda market.

The protesters were demanding answers from the police for the death of Ousman Darboe, a street vendor, who died after an alleged incident involving the police.

The protesters could be heard chanting that PIU Officers were not needed in the Gambia.

“We are tired of these killings, these PIU Officers are paid from the tax payers’ money to secure our lives, but they in turn decide to kill our own people,” a protester said.

Mr Sallah pleaded with the protesters during his impromptu speech to them and urged them not to take the law in their hands.

He told the angry protesters to stop throwing stones at the police and to disperse.

Mr Sallah was also spotted at the Serekunda Police Station engaging the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, General Yakuba Drammeh, and the Station Officer for the release of detained protesters.

Sallah discussed with the officers on the way forward for the resolution of the standoff and for peace and tranquillity to prevail.

“I have spoken to the protesters after listening to them and they confirmed to me that some of their colleagues are detained here. They said they will not go home until they are released,” said the National Assembly member for Serekunda.

“They also complained that they are treated like animals. That is why they are reacting like this. To defuse the tension, I urge you to release those who are detained here and I will also go and address the protesters outside and I’m sure they will listen to me.”

The Deputy Army chief, General Drammeh, told Mr Sallah that he agreed with his position on resolving the standoff and dispersing of the protesters.

He said he deployed soldiers from the Yundum Barracks to Serekunda to help keep the peace and resolved the situation before it spirals out of control.

“I came to the ground and went to the protesters to talk to them. We are all working to make sure that there is peace and any means that we can use to make sure that there is peace, let’s go on with it,” said the deputy army chief, General Drammeh.

The detained protesters were released on bail and the crowd asked to disperse.

Mr Sallah was reported to have embarked on similar mediation efforts in Bakoteh and Brikama.

The protest in the Greater Banjul Area were sparked by angry vendors who were demanding answers from police after their colleague, Ousman Darboe, died after an alleged incident with the police.

The riot in Brikama was sparked by a group of residents who dubbed themselves as the #occupyBAC group, were protesting against the Brikama Area Council officials for poor services, sanitation, poor roads among other grievances.

Eight people were reported injured after clashes with police while 30 protesters were arrested in the Brikama riot.