Halifa Sallah, candidate in the 2006 presidential elections has been released unconditionally upon the withdrawal of all charges at the Brikama Magistrates Court late in the afternoon on Thursday, 19 March 2009. In his application to withdraw the charges, Mr Chenge, the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that the prosecution were withdrawing the charges in the interest of peace and justice. He further told the court that they had filed a new charge sheet and that they were applying to withdraw all the charges. Since Halifa Sallah did not object to the application he was discharged by the Magistrate in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code.

The social scientist and Director of the People’s Centre for Research, Civic Awareness and Community Initiative was arrested on 8 March 2009 and taken to court on Wednesday 11 March, when he was “granted bail” on conditions that he could not possibly meet. He was refused access to visitors, a right which other remand prisoners enjoy, until Wednesday, 18 March when his wife received a phone call inviting her to visit him.

Halifa Sallah is also a member of Foroyaa’s Editorial Board.