Senegal: No longer a sanctuary for African dissidents

The West African State has adopted a policy of expelling African refugees critical of their home governments

Macky Sall (L) was invited by Yahya Jammeh (R) to attend The Gambia’s 48^th Independence Anniversary (Photo taken from Scoops de Ziguinchor)

Senegalese authorities ‘threaten’ to expel Gambian journalist Abubacarr Saidykhan

 Abubacarr Saidykhan/Photo:Facebook

Senegalese authorities have “threatened” to expel Gambian freelance journalist, Abubacarr Saidykhan on Monday, if he continue to be opposed to the Gambian regime, according to reports.

Saidykhan has been living in the Senegalese capital Dakar in self-imposed exile since fleeing The Gambia in October 2012 over reported “death threats” leveled against him by unidentified men believed to be state security agents.

Prior to his flight, freelance journalist Saidykhan was arrested and detained in September 2012 by the Banjul Bureau of the International Police Agency, INTERPOL, after he and a colleague journalist, Baboucarr Ceesay, had applied for a police permit to peacefully demonstrate against President Yahya Jammeh’s execution of nine death row inmates by firing squad.

Reports indicated that two senior officials of the President Macky Sall-led Government met Saidykhan recently over the fate of his asylum application – and told him “Senegal will not allow any Gambian fugitive in Senegal to continue to be actively involved in opposition to the authorities in The Gambia”.

CPJ: Gambian journalist threatened after writing on executions

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NEWS ALERT

Gambian journalist threatened after writing on executions Lagos, Nigeria, November 16, 2012-The Committee to Protect Journalists today said it holds authorities in the Gambia responsible for the safety of a journalist who has received death threats following critical coverage of the government. Abubacarr Saidykhan, a freelancer who contributes to several news websites, told CPJ that four unknown people on Tuesday threatened him at his Ebo Town residence in Kanifing Municipality, some seven miles (11 kilometers) from the capital Banjul. Saidykhan said he was near his compound gate with his brother when the men drove up in an unmarked vehicle with tinted windows and threatened to kill him next time they see him. One of the men called him "a very stubborn journalist" before they drove off.

Gambian journalist reports second set of death threats

IPI condemns any attempts to threaten the safety of reporters; calls for police investigation 

 Abubacarr Saidykhan/Photo:Facebook

Reporters Without Borders Update

Saidykhan/Photo/facebook

15 November 2012

GAMBIA

Thugs threaten to kill journalist, what are authorities doing?

RSF - Reporters Without Borders is very disturbed by an increase in threats and intimidation attempts against freelance journalist Abubacarr Saidykhan, who – along with Daily News reporter Baboucarr Ceesay, the Gambian Press Union’s  vice-president – already received death threats by email in October.

After talking to Saidykhan, Reporters Without Borders is amazed that the presence of police who are supposed to protect him has had no deterrent effect on those responsible for the threats, and calls on the authorities to accept that they have a duty to take effective action.

The Police And The Two Journalists

It is a trite law that he who asserts must prove, that Justice delay is Justicedined, that Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done: Abubacarr Saidykhan/Photo:Facebook