Police have summoned managing editor of Voice Newspaper Musa Sheriff and reporter Momodou Justice Darboe amid legal threat over Muhammed Jah succession story.

Barrow’s legal team has served the paper with a letter demanding an apology or court action after the paper reported that the president had chosen Q Group boss Muhammed Jah as his successor for the 2026 presidential election. But the president’s legal team rejected the report and described it as “defamatory”. 

However, Gambia Press Union issued a statement in solidarity with Voice Newspaper, adding that the story upholds the principles of balance and fairness in news reporting as provided for in the Cherno Jallow Charter of Ethics for Journalists (the conduct for journalists) by providing a platform to two senior NPP officials to reply to the claims.

“We consider the threat of legal action as unnecessary and a threat to press freedom. We also reiterate our call for president Barrow to uphold his promises and demonstrate tolerance for press freedom, and urge him to drop the idea of a suit against The Voice Newspaper immediately,” GPU said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba