UTG Students Petition for Death Penalty, Speedy Trial in Yunusa Mbaye Murder Case

Written by: Mama A. Touray

In a petition signed and submitted by Muhammed Ngallan, one of the coordinating members of Justice for Yunusa Mbaye, to the Ministry of Justice, the group has demanded the reinstatement of the death penalty under the Criminal Offences Act and called for the speedy trial of those accused in the killing of University of The Gambia student Yunusa Mbaye.

While calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty, the team stated in its petition that the primary purpose of criminal punishment is to deter others from committing crimes, arguing that life imprisonment has failed to deter perpetrators of violent offences.

“There exists no better deterring factor for murder than the death penalty. The harder the punishment, the more the deterrence! We are deeply concerned that an individual widely alleged to have been involved in multiple violent incidents remains at liberty despite reports of pending police investigations/cases,” the petition states.

According to the team, since the incident involving Yunusa Mbaye, they have also observed that the accused has “manifested no remorse for the consequences of his actions.”

In line with the ministry’s mandate, the team urged the matter to be handled in accordance with the principles of fairness, transparency, and the right to a speedy trial as guaranteed under Section 24 of the Constitution.

The team further called on the Ministry of Justice to take all necessary measures to ensure the timely prosecution of the matter and the effective administration of justice.

“That the Government and relevant authorities amend the Criminal Offences Act 2025 to reinstate the death penalty and bar the bailing of second violent offenders as a way of strengthening deterrence against violent crimes and enhancing public safety,” the petition adds.

Meanwhile, the team also submitted a petition to the Ministry of Interior demanding an immediate assessment of the country’s security situation following recent violent crimes and killings, with a view to identifying and addressing existing gaps in security operations.

The group further demanded that the Government accelerate and fully implement all outstanding Security Sector Reforms to strengthen the capacity, professionalism, accountability, and effectiveness of all security institutions.

“We demand that security presence and patrols be significantly enhanced in communities, educational institutions, and other public spaces identified as vulnerable to violent crimes. Mechanisms for rapid emergency response and improved collaboration between communities and security agencies should also be strengthened to ensure timely intervention during security emergencies,” the petition states.

The team further called on the Ministry of Interior to regularly engage the public on measures being taken to address violent crime and improve national security.

The campaign has also submitted a separate petition to the Ministry of Health requesting an independent investigation into allegations that Yunusa Mbaye was denied emergency medical treatment after the stabbing. The petition calls for an inquiry into the alleged denial of emergency care, disciplinary action if negligence is established, and the creation of a transparent Medical Officers’ Negligence Reporting and Complaint System to strengthen accountability within the healthcare system.

“We submit this petition in good faith and in the interest of justice, accountability, and the protection of every citizen’s right to timely emergency medical care. We fear that unless decisive action is taken, public confidence in the country’s healthcare system… will continue to erode,” the petition states.