Gambia: Murder of journalist Deyda Hydara, JED demands legal action against ex. President Yahya Jammeh

[RELEASE] Murder of Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara. The organizations defending the freedom of the press demand legal proceedings against the former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh.

Journalist in Danger (JED) joins her voice in the Regional Network of Organizations for the Defense of Freedom of Expression (AFEX), calling on African and world leaders to take immediate steps to bring to justice former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh for the 2004 murder of Deyda Hydara, former president of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) and publisher of The Point, an independent Gambian newspaper.

Lieutenant Malick Jatta told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation (CRRT) Commission, during a public hearing held in Banjul on July 22, 2019, that the journalist was assassinated by direct order of President Jammeh as part of the « Magic Pen » operation. He said that Captain Tumbul Tamba, who commanded the strike team, was in telephone communication with Jammeh’s president.

Lieutenant Malick Jatta and two other army officers, Alieu Jeng and Sana Manjang, were part of the commando that shot down Hydara on December 16, 2004 on the orders of President Jammeh.

Given the urgency and seriousness of these revelations, AFEX calls on regional and international bodies, in particular ECOWAS and the AU, to pressure the government of Equatorial Guinea to extradite former President Jammeh immediately. to Gambia, which would be a first step towards bringing him to justice. The extradition of the former Gambian President will be a strong signal to put an end to the impunity of crimes against journalists.

AFEX urges regional leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) to work with relevant United Nations bodies and mechanisms to launch an international survey on the assassination of Mr. Hydara to identify everyone involved. in this heinous crime and the roles that each of them has played and ensure that they are brought to justice.

Finally, AFEX urges the Gambian government to refrain from granting any amnesty or immunity to any of those involved in the killing of Mr. Hydara, including former President Jammeh.

Journalist in Danger