UDP MPs to boycott Friday budget speech

National Assembly members elected under the United Democratic Party have announced they will boycott Friday’s budget speech in protest against the detention of one of the party’s senior figures.

Lawyer Borry S. Touray was charged with incitement to violence and detained on Thursday after being questioned over remarks he allegedly made during an internal party meeting over the weekend.

Dozens of UDP supporters, including senior party officials, gathered at the Police Headquarters in Banjul to show solidarity with Mr Touray.

They condemned his detention and called for his “unconditional release”.

In response, UDP lawmakers say they will not attend Friday’s budget presentation.

Yankuba Darboe, chairman of the Brikama Area Council and a senior UDP official, said: “Thank you to our NAMs. All our UDP MPs will boycott tomorrow’s budget speech in protest against the police brutality meted on our comrade, patriot and senior lawyer, Borry S. Touray. We demand his unconditional release.”