Jammeh cracks down on press with dismissal of State Television Director ahead of December elections

Momodou Sabally, Directo of GRTS

The Director General of Gambia state-controlled radio and television (GRTS) has been dismissed from government service following the extensive coverage given to the presidential candidate of one of opposition parties.

The Gambian dictator decided to dismiss the Director General, Momodou Sabally, who was present at the offices of the Independent Electoral Commission where one of opposition party leaders was presenting his nomination papers that will officially declare him a presidential candidate.

Mr. Sabally was seen directing the filming of the presentation which showed the crowd size of the candidate's supporters which sent Jammeh into hysteria and ordered his dismissal.  He was immediately arrested and is currently in the custody of the notorious National Intelligence Agency. (NIA).

This is not the first time Momodou Sabally has had a run in with the dictatorship.  He was recently 'pardoned' in the midst of a trial when he faced an "economic crime" charge before he was appointed by Jammeh as Managing Director of The Daily Observer newspaper reportedly owned by the dictator.  Mr. Sabally later moved to the GRTS, another propaganda arm of the regime of Yaya Jammeh.