Nine officials of the banned anti-government group Three Years Jotna, have been cleared off all criminal charges after the Ministry of Justice discontinued the case. 

The officials were facing charges of rioting and civil disobedience after a 2020 protest calling for President Adama Barrow to step down turned violent.

The Ministry of Justice said it discontinued the case on Tuesday as a humanitarian gesture during the month of Ramadan to promote peace and reconciliation. 

“The Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice has taken the decision after careful consideration to put a halt on the criminal proceedings against the accused persons charged with various offences under the criminal code in respect of activities arising from the incident of the 26th day of January 2020 popularly called the ‘three years jotna’.

“Whilst the Honourable Attorney General is under no obligation to state the reason or reasons for his action, the Honourable Attorney General wishes to state that this humanitarian gesture, taken after consultation with the President and within the Ramadan spirit, is predicated on promoting peace and reconciliation among all stakeholders in the political process as we approach the upcoming elections in December this year.”

The statement added: “the Attorney General would like to seize this opportunity to urge all citizens and residents of The Gambia to be law abiding and to avail themselves of the legal means and mechanisms in place for the redress of grievances.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba

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