COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS
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Tom Rhodes | Africa Program Coordinator | [log in to unmask] | (+221) 238-3247
Mohamed Keita | Africa Program Research Associate | [log in to unmask] | (212) 
300-9004

In Gambia, government-held reporter sighted at hospital

New York, July 30, 2007— The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned 
by reports that a Gambian reporter, arrested a year ago and since held 
incommunicado without charge or trial by the government, was briefly 
admitted last week to Gambia’s main hospital in the capital, Banjul.

“Chief” Ebrima B. Manneh, the State House correspondent for the private, 
pro-government Daily Observer, was arrested without charge by plainclothes 
security agents on July 7, 2006, in connection with an unpublished story 
critical of Gambian President Yahya Jammeh. Authorities refused to comment 
on the arrest until February, when police publicly denied holding the 
journalist.

“We hold Gambian authorities responsible for the well-being of Chief Ebrima 
B. Manneh,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “His continued 
imprisonment without charge or trial and the official denial of his 
detention in the face of contrary evidence is disturbing. We renew an urgent 
call for the authorities to immediately release him.”

On Wednesday, Manneh is said to have been admitted to the Royal Victoria 
Teaching Hospital for treatment of high blood pressure—a condition he 
allegedly developed in detention, according to U.S.-based Gambian news Web 
site Senegambianews and the Ghana-based press freedom group Media Foundation 
of West Africa. Agents from the Police Intervention Unit and prison 
officials transferred the journalist after a few hours to a military clinic 
in Banjul, according to the same sources, which cited an eyewitness account.

A relative of Manneh, who asked not to be identified for fear of government 
retribution, told CPJ that a separate source confirmed the hospital visit 
for an alleged checkup. Manneh did not have a history of high blood 
pressure, the relative said.

Hospital spokesman Baboucarr Ngum told CPJ, “I have no idea who gets 
admitted in the hospital,” without denying or confirming the reports. He 
referred inquiries to the chief medical director. Police spokesman Suleyman 
Secka did not return CPJ’s calls.

The Media Foundation of West Africa recently filed suit against the 
government of Gambia at the Community Court of Justice of the Economic 
Community of West African States seeking the journalist’s immediate release 
and compensation for his time spent incarcerated. A government 
representative failed to appear at a July 16 preliminary hearing in Abuja, 
Nigeria.

The Committee to Protect Journalists named this year Gambia one of the 
world’s worst backsliders on press freedom.



CPJ is a New York–based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to 
safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit www.cpj.org.

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