Frederick Woman Freed From Gambian Prison

She was jailed in April following anti-government protest.

 

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) – A Maryland woman has been ordered released on bond from a Gambian prison but it’s not clear when she’ll come home.

An appeals court in Banjul ordered the release Monday of Fanta Jawara and 18 others. They include her uncle Ousainou Darboe, the head of Gambia’s United Democratic Party.

The order came days after strongman ruler Yahya Jammeh agreed to step aside after losing the presidential election to Adama Barrow, whom Darboe supports.

Jawara is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Frederick, Maryland. She and the others were sentenced to three years in prison after they were arrested during an anti-government protest in April.

Her husband Ebrima Jawara says a hearing on Thursday could determine whether his wife’s passport is returned.

He says, “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

By Kevin McManus