By Mustapha Darboe
An estimated 200 Gambians are currently languishing in detention centers controlled by rebels where they could not be reached by International Organisation for Migration and the Gambian Association in Libya, The Standard has gathered.
Edrisa Sarjo, the secretary general of the Gambian Association in Libya, told The Standard yesterday that the detention centers are in rebel-controlled areas such as Zawia, Garyan, Subrata, Mizrata and Ben Walid.
“In Tripoli detention centers we registered lees than 20 Gambians so far,” Sarjo added.
He further stated that one Sulayman Janko, a 24-year-old Gambian was shot in the leg by rebels in a town called Zawia.
He said the boy is now hospitalized in Tripoli.
“He was shot while attempting to run from his captors who then kept him for months without treatment and only referred him to hospital when his wound turned seriously septic.”
The Standard also gathered that another Gambian, Wandifa Sonko, 72, was also involved in a serious car accident and is now hopistailized.
The Gambia currently has no consulate in Libya meaning that only the association of Gambians with very little capacity protects citizens there.
“We need Government to deploy a mission to Libya. If there is a government mission running the affairs of Gambians here, it will be easy for the Gambian Association,” Sarjo said.
