Faraba shooting

Background

In 2018, a contract for sand mining operations in the town of Faraba Banta, located 50 km south of Banjul, The Gambia, was awarded to the Julakey Company. Accusations arose that the contract had been granted without consulting the local village council and stakeholders. The week before the shooting, the National Assembly's Committee on the Environment had ordered Julakey Company to cease operations pending investigation, but due to communication issues the company had not yet received official notice by the day of the incident.

Incident

On 18 June 2018, local residents protested against the mining company in Faraba Banta. The protest turned violent: five trucks loading sand were set on fire by youths, and the compounds of individuals identified as involved in the mining operations were also targeted and burned. The Gambia Police Force's Police Intervention Unit (PIU) was dispatched to the scene. Clashes occurred, injuring several PIU officers. One officer was identified as having fired live ammunition at protesters. Two people were killed instantly, and a third, a student at The Gambia College, was hospitalised in critical condition and died two days later, on 20 June. Multiple other protesters were injured and taken to hospital.

Responses

A youth leader and eyewitness publicly condemned the killing of unarmed youths and called for a government investigation. Two international human rights organisations urged an independent inquiry.

The Inspector General of Police denied authorizing the use of live ammunition and stated his office would investigate. He resigned from his post on 21 June under pressure to allow an independent investigation, with his deputy taking over in an acting capacity.

President Adama Barrow's office issued a statement expressing sadness over the incident and ordered a thorough investigation. He called for calm and restraint, suspended all mining activities pending further notice, appointed a presidential commission of enquiry and a coroner, and visited victims in hospital. He also visited Faraba Banta on 22 June, leading Friday prayers and addressing the community.

Investigation

Five police officers involved in the shooting, including two superintendents, were taken into custody. A commission of enquiry, chaired by human rights lawyer Emmanuel Joof, was appointed by President Barrow and formally sworn in on 6 July 2018. The commission included representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Gambia Bar Association, the Gambia Armed Forces, the State Intelligence Services, and The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations.