A Gambian protester who was detained earlier this year has died while undergoing surgery at a hospital in the capital, Banjul, an opposition leader said today, as his party blamed President Yahya Jammeh's regime.
Ebrima Solo Krummah died yesterday during an unsuccessful surgery, said United Democratic Party official Suntou Touray.
"He died under state custody," Touray said.
Gambia's largest opposition party said family members had not been informed of his medical condition, he was denied visits, and security guards surrounded his room.
"The circumstances surrounding his medical condition and leading to his admission and operation have not been reported to the party or his family members. The party and the family did not consent to the operation," the United Democratic Party said in a statement.
An activist lawyer, Assan Martin, has called for an independent investigation, saying the president "must be held responsible of the death of UDP supporters."
Krummah had taken part in demonstrations in May against the arrests of opposition leaders and the alleged torture and death in custody of the UDP's secretary, Solo Sandeng, who had helped organize earlier protests.
A court convicted 19 people in July, including the leader of the United Democratic Party, and sentenced them to three years' imprisonment on charges related to unauthorized protests, Amnesty International has reported.
More than 25 others remain in detention awaiting trial, the rights group has said.
Rights groups have accused the president of human rights abuses.
In June, Gambian activists and politicians called on West Africa's economic body to take actions against Gambia for its crackdown on rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
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