She was arrested following a demonstration on April 16th.
FREDERICK, Md. (AP) – The State Department says it’s closely monitoring Gambia’s detention of a U.S. citizen from Frederick who was arrested during an anti-government demonstration while visiting her native country in April.
Although she has family connections to the main opposition party, Fanta Jawara’s husband said Wednesday she was a bystander when she was arrested April 16 near the capital city of Banjul.
State Department spokesman John Kirby told a June 1 press briefing that Jawara participated in the protest.
The Washington Post reports that she’s charged with unlawful assembly, rioting and five other offenses.
Jawara’s uncle Ousainou Darboe, an opposition party leader, was also arrested.
Both Kirby and Jawara’s husband Ebrima Jawara tell news media they’re concerned about her treatment in the prison where she’s being held.