The resolution "strongly condemning the ongoing and increasing violence against political opposition in The Gambia" was passed in the European Parliament today. The adopted resolution further stated that the "EU and its members states should consider freezing all non-humanitarian assistance to The Government of the Gambia and imposing travel bans or other targeted sanctions on officials responsible for serious human rights abuses ."
The European Parliament expressed deep concern about the rapidly-worsening security and human rights situation, deplores the attacks of the 14th and 16th April 2016 against peaceful demonstrators and calls for the immediate release of all protesters arrested during this demonstration for electoral reform.
The European Parliament further demanded that the death of the prominent opposition activist, Solo Sandeng, be swiftly and independently investigated.
The European Parliament also vehemently condemns the "forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture and other human rights violations targeting dissenting voices the government of ...Yahya Jammeh."
The fact that the European Parliament passed the resolution urging its 28 member countries to consider freezing all non-humanitarian assistance to the regime of Yaya Jammeh and imposing travel bans or other targeted sanctions of officials responsible for serious human rights abuses, means that these individual European countries can implement their own sanctions policies against individuals in the Jammeh regime who have been found violating the human rights of Gambian citizens.
In anticipation of travel ban, some of Jammeh's senior security personnel have already started to send their families away from The Gambia. For instance, the current Inspector General of Police has sent three of his daughters to the United States because, according to a family friend "things are not going right in the country" quoting Sonko. The Interior Minister, Ousman Sonko, also has, at least, one daughter in the United States.
Needless to say that we at sidisanneh.blogspot.com welcome this development which, in our view, is long overdue and we hope that the Obama Administration will follow suit which, we hope, will include not only travel ban but asset freezes and seizures should include Yaya Jammeh's Potomac Mansion.
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