The six journalists who were returned to the capital’s Mile Two prison Fri 3rd July were released again Tues 7th on bail of 400,000 dalassi (10,800 euros).

The court did not immediately demand payment of the bail but it asked fellow-journalists to act as guarantors. All six were told to report to the capital’s high court again the next day.

‘We hope they are being released for good this time,’ reporters without borders said. ‘The repeated imprisonment of these journalists is outrageous and unacceptable. It is as if the Gambian government were deliberately trying to terrorise journalists and press freedom activists. We also fear that the authorities are deliberately trying to ruin them financially by imposing these very high bail amounts.’

The six journalists released, all members of the Gambia press union (GPU), were its secretary general Emil Touray, treasurer Pa Modou Fall, The Point publisher Pap Saine, The Point editor Ebrima Sawaneh, Foroyaa editor Sam Sarr and Foroyaa reporter Abubakar Saidykhan