By: Alieu Jallow
Senior counsel and United Democratic Party national executive member Borry Touray was released on bail in the early hours of Friday morning after hours of questioning at Police Headquarters in Banjul. He has been instructed to report to the nearest police station of his choice on Saturday, according to ASP Modou Sissawo, spokesperson of the Gambia Police Force. Touray has opted to report in Banjul.
His release brought visible relief among party supporters who had gathered outside the police headquarters throughout the day. Among them was Sheriffo Bayo Sonko, Transport Councilor at the Brikama Area Council and a prominent UDP member. Speaking in a WhatsApp interview with The Fatu Network, Sonko said Gambians must resist what he described as a culture of silence that undermines their freedoms.
He argued that Touray’s arrest reinforces public concerns about unequal application of the law. Sonko drew comparisons to past remarks made by senior figures such as Seedy Njie, Dr Demba Sabally and comments attributed to President Adama Barrow. According to him, “We’ve all heard what Dr. Demba Sabally said about being ready to shed blood for President Barrow. We’ve heard Seedy Njie, we’ve heard Mama Jabbie, and we’ve seen the NPP woman who insulted the Jola community. None of them faced arrest. It’s as if some people have parents and others don’t. It feels like only NPP supporters have the right to say whatever they want, but when an ordinary citizen speaks, they go after the person. We are determined.”
Shortly after stepping out from the police facility, Borry Touray thanked UDP supporters for their solidarity. He also commended the police for what he described as respectful and professional conduct during his detention. “I was nicely received by the police. The place I was kept was comfortable, and they were polite and respectful. We had no problems,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sannehmentereng lawmaker Hon Fatou Cham said her absence, along with other UDP parliamentarians, from the budget session at the National Assembly was a deliberate protest. She argued that their senior executive member was unlawfully detained, and they could not sit in parliament pretending while he remained in custody. “As national representatives, we chose to be here to ensure our member is released,” she said, also referencing comments made by President Barrow about the UDP leader.
ASP Modou Sissawo later confirmed that Touray was granted bail on condition that he reports back to police on Friday. He stressed that the procedure remains part of an ongoing investigation.
The development continues to stir political debate, as supporters question what they view as inconsistent enforcement of the law, while Touray’s legal team prepares for the next steps.
By: Alieu Jallow Senior counsel and United Democratic Party national executive member Borry Touray was released on bail in the early hours of Friday morning after hours of questioning at Police Headquarters in Banjul. He has been instructed to report to the nearest police station of his choice on Saturday, according to ASP Modou Sissawo, The Fatu Network
