THE GAMBIA Who killed ?

January 2005 Investigation : Leonard Vincent Reporters Without Borders International Secrétariat desk 5, rue Geoffroy Marie 75009 -France Tél. (33) 1 44 83 84 76 Fax (33) 1 45 23 11 51 E-mail : [email protected] / [email protected] Web : www.rsf.org Who killed Deyda Hydara? He co-founded He 1994. since correspondent Borders’ Without ters Repor- been had He intellectual. respected a was to do with his death. And why Hydara, anyway? He anything having denies which government, their to put Gambians many that question the fact in is Hydara?” Deyda kill to as far so December.go you 22 did “Why on of streets the through marched which they when photo carried Hydara’s journalists Gambian bearing posters the on legend the was Hydara?”This Deyda killed “Who aim their was Deyda, theysucceeded.”when theykilled that “If said. opposition political offito returning of sure be to the ce,”of partisan a order in terror with everyone paralyse to wanted they elections, 2006 the to runup the Senegal. “In within enclave an is that inhabitants million 1.4 of poor,country this small in mind of state the trates illus- conversations, many of course the in heard identifibe often remark, aggrieved of ed. kind This that’s all,” said a businessman who also asked not to tactics, is change will they thing only the sure, for that’s again, happen will thing of kind mity.“This anony- requested who journalist Banjul a by told was speak,”Borders to Without afraid Reporters is everyone but happened what knows “Everyone lese capitalofDakar, from 21to 27December. Senega- the to as well as areas, surrounding and Banjul tofi visit the presentsthat of report ndings investigation. aserious toauthorities conduct This the press to and family his help to Gambia Theto of his death, it made plans to send a representative der. Reporters as Without soon learned AsBorders mur- this behind government’shand the see who many are there and 2004 December 16 of night the on car his of wheel the at blood cold in down G acrimonious nor vengeful. He was an enlightened an was He vengeful. nor acrimonious have succeeded each other in Gambia was neither that regimes the to opposition His columns. its in positions humanistic clear, took French- Hydara speaking, and altruistic Thoughtful, mimeographedpublications. four-page, just of consisted me- dia print the of rest The kind. its of newspaper When its localcorrespondent. him made gradually and translator a as him hired for 1974 since worked also had He Saine. Pap years, 35 of friend his with 1991 in – week a times three gne France-Presse Agence ambian journalist Deyda Hydara was gunned was Hydara Deyda journalist ambian h Point The Point The s apae, t a te only the was it appeared, fi rst – a tabloid that appears that tabloid a – ( AFP , hc originally which ), Thursday 16December, 10p.m. Sankung SillahStreet, no politicalambitions. democrat. Aged 58 at the time of his death, he had of anniversary 13th the was December 16 Thursday, the Casamance road. on south, the to localities with capital the linking road asphalted only the Highway, jul-Serekunda offset and Kanifiof direction the in Ban- the via ng They left Fajara, passed the district of Bakau Kunku, Jobe, behindHydara. 31,sat intheback, Niansarang and seat passenger front the into got 33, Jagne, Isatou Mercedes. blue a car, his of seat declined the invitation. Hydara got into the driver’s he so ride, a him give to else someone found had to his home in the suburbs. But, that evening, Saine of Westfield from where he would usually get a taxi district neighbouring the to Saine partner his take Kanifiof offalso He lived. also he where ng, to ered tor and his typist a ride to their homes in the district fi