BIOGRAPHY OF OMAR BARROW

Omar Barrow was a young Gambian journalist and humanitarian whose life was tragically cut short during one of the most violent episodes in The Gambia’s modern history. Shot and killed by security forces while attempting to assist victims of a student protest in April 2000, Barrow became a stark symbol of both the fragility of press freedom under authoritarian rule and the dangers faced by journalists and volunteers in conflict zones.

Early Life and Career

Little is publicly recorded about Barrow’s early years, including his date of birth or upbringing. What is clear from accounts of his life is that by the turn of the millennium he had established himself as a dedicated journalist employed by Sud FM, a privately owned radio station operating in The Gambia and affiliated with a Senegalese broadcaster. Sud FM was one of the few independent media voices at a time when the Gambian press faced increasing pressure and censorship under the military-dominated regime of President Yahya Jammeh. Barrow was passionately committed to journalism’s power to inform and mobilize. As a reporter, he covered a range of stories about daily life and the social challenges facing Gambians. However, it was his involvement in civic and humanitarian activity that demonstrated the breadth of his dedication to his community. Beyond his work on the airwaves, Barrow also served as a volunteer with the Gambian Red Cross Society’s Emergency Response Team (ERT). In this role, he undertook first-aid training and was prepared to assist the wounded during periods of civil unrest. This dual role as journalist and humanitarian would prove tragically significant in April 2000.

The April 10-11, 2000 Student Protests

Barrow’s death occurred in the context of a larger and rapidly escalating confrontation between Gambian youth and the security forces. In early 2000, the Gambia Students Union (GAMSU) organized a protest to demand accountability for alleged abuses including the torture and death of a student by fire department personnel and the purported rape of a 13-year-old girl by a police officer. When authorities denied permits for the march and refused to address the grievances, students planned a demonstration beginning on April 10, 2000. Thousands of students gathered at the Gambia Technical Training Institute in Kanifing with the intent to march through Banjul, the capital. However, security forces — including police and anti-riot units — mobilized quickly and attempted to block the protest. Authorities ordered the crowd to disperse and deployed tear gas and rubber bullets. When students persisted, clashes quickly intensified. Demonstrators erected makeshift barricades and threw stones; in response, security forces opened fire with live ammunition. Over the course of the day, at least 16 people were killed and hundreds injured during what later became known as the April 10-11 student massacre. Among those killed were students, a three-year-old child, and Omar Barrow, whose presence at the scene reflected both his professional and humanitarian commitments.

Barrow’s Final Hours

On April 10, Barrow was stationed inside the premises of the Red Cross compound in Kanifing. Donning a clearly marked Red Cross bib and helmet to distinguish himself as a humanitarian volunteer, he was assisting wounded protesters and preparing to give first aid when security forces fired upon the area. According to eyewitness reports, a member of the Gambian army’s anti-riot unit fired two bullets that struck him in the armpit. Barrow was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Banjul, pronounced dead at approximately 2 p.m., and was just 28 years old at the time of his death. His killing took place in full view of other Red Cross volunteers and journalists, highlighting the severity of the state’s response to what began as a student protest. Barrow’s dual role that day — as a journalist covering events and as a volunteer providing first aid — made his presence uniquely valuable yet uniquely dangerous.

Aftermath and Lack of Accountability

The massacre sparked national shock and international condemnation, yet official responses ranged from denial to minimal acknowledgment. Authorities initially denied using live ammunition, asserting that tear gas and non-lethal methods were the only tools deployed against demonstrators. However, numerous eyewitness accounts and medical reports contradicted these claims, indicating that security forces had indeed resorted to live fire against unarmed protesters and bystanders. A government Commission of Inquiry later concluded that officers from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) and other security personnel were primarily responsible for the deaths and injuries sustained during the protests. Despite these findings, the government declined to prosecute anyone, instead choosing to shield members of the security forces with indemnity legislation and blaming student organizers for the unrest. To date no one has been charged with responsibility for Barrow’s death or that of the students killed that day. The lack of accountability reflected broader issues of impunity under the regime of President Jammeh, whose administration was regularly criticized by international human rights organizations for its treatment of journalists, activists, and political opponents. Barrow was one of the earliest high-profile casualties of these policies — a journalist killed in the line of duty whose death went unresolved and unpunished.

Legacy

Omar Barrow’s death resonated deeply within Gambian civil society and among press freedom advocates across Africa and beyond. His killing—like other attacks on media practitioners in The Gambia during that era — underscored the risks journalists faced while attempting to report on sensitive political events under an authoritarian regime. It also highlighted the dangers humanitarian volunteers face when caught up in violent state crackdowns. Barrow’s family, colleagues, and organizations such as PEN Gambia have periodically renewed calls for the Gambian government to revisit the Commission of Inquiry’s findings and pursue justice for Barrow and others killed during the April protests. More than two decades after his death, his case remains a poignant reminder of the human cost of repression and the ongoing struggle for accountability in societies where state power is unchecked. In commemorating Barrow, journalists and human rights defenders emphasize his courage — not only in reporting critical stories but also in putting himself at the service of others as a humanitarian responder during a crisis. His life and death continue to be invoked in discussions on media freedom, state violence, and the rights of citizens to protest and to receive protection under the law.