By Lamin Njie
The European Union has called on Gambians interested in voicing their views through protests to do in a peaceful manner.
Gambians from different political groups have been taking to the streets in recent weeks to voice their concern over various issues.
Operation Three Years Jotna staged a protest last month to demand the resignation of President Adama Barrow. The protest was quickly followed by Gambia For Years’ protest whose members including close President Barrow aides called on the Gambian leader not to resign.
On Wednesday, thousands of opposition APRC supporters also took to the streets to call for the return to the country of former president Yahya Jammeh.
EU chimed in into the issue of protests in a statement late Wednesday urging all involved parties wishing to voice their views through public manifestations or rally to do so in a “calm, peaceful, law-abiding and respectful manner, and to refrain from using threatening language and or aggressive conduct.”
“The Delegation of the European Union hereby reiterates that it is not in any way associated with, neither supports any particular political movement seeking to illegally or unconstitutionally change the democratic order in The Gambia,” the statement said.
It then added: “The European Union Delegation to The Gambia continues to support The Gambia in its efforts to enhance democracy, to promote national reconciliation and to further the protection of human rights, including the freedoms of expression and of peaceful assembly.”
