The recent announcement by a Muslim religious leader, Imam Musa Jallow, of his intent to contest the presidency in the upcoming 2026 election has ignited widespread public debate across The Gambia. Central to the controversy is a delicate question: Can a religious cleric legitimately and effectively seek the nation’s highest political office without compromising the secular foundations of the state? More in the report.

GAMTEL staff say their May 2025 salaries were delayed to after the Tobaski holiday — despite a $10 million World Bank package announced months earlier to support the struggling state-owned enterprise. As frustrations mount, two senior government ministers have issued conflicting explanations about donor funds being used to pay SOE salaries, raising serious questions about transparency, accountability, and where the money actually went. More in this FactCheck.

After months of delays and repeated absences, the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Seedy Keita, is once again scheduled to appear before the National Assembly to deliver a long-overdue oral statement on the full implementation and monitoring of the 2024 and the first quarter of the 2025 national budget. More in the report.

Banjul, The Gambia — The Managing Director of Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, Mr Suman, faced intense cross-examination in the High Court as legal proceedings continued over the deaths of more than 70 children allegedly caused by contaminated medicinal syrups imported from India. Plaintiffs’ counsel accused the company of negligence and collusion with Maiden Pharmaceuticals, raising serious questions about regulatory compliance and corporate accountability. More in the report.

Witchcraft accusations remain a pervasive issue across Africa, often resulting in serious human rights violations, including violence, social exclusion, and, in extreme cases, death. These accusations disproportionately affect vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. In the Gambia, a particularly disturbing incident occurred in 2009 when nearly 1,000 individuals were detained and forced to confess to witchcraft under duress. More in this factsheet.

The Director of Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, Ali Suman, came under intense cross-examination at the High Court in Banjul on Tuesday, as legal proceedings continue into the deaths of over 70 children allegedly caused by contaminated cough syrups imported by his company. Facing pointed questions from the plaintiffs’ legal team, Mr. Suman defended his company's practices as scrutiny mounted over expired import documents and discrepancies in certification claims. More in this report.

In a major boost to national transport, the Kanilai Ferry has resumed service after more than a year out of operation—now completing the Banjul–Barra crossing in just 25 minutes, a dramatic improvement from the hour-long trips commuters previously endured. More in the publication.

"I thought I’d find a job as soon as I landed, and my life would be perfect, just like the people I saw on Facebook," said Amadou Camara, a young Gambian who recently returned from a failed migration attempt. His story is not unique. For many Gambians, the dream of a better life in Europe has been shaped by social media and the myths that circulate on these platforms. However, the reality of migration is far different from the glamorous depictions that flood their feeds. More in this feature publication.

As Gamtel and its mobile arm, Gamcel, press forward with a multi-phase restructuring initiative aimed at transforming the state-owned telecom giants, long-serving contract staff are sounding the alarm over potential exclusion from the plan’s benefits. More in this feature publication.

As the public eagerly anticipates the introduction of pedestrian flyovers on the newly inaugurated OIC Highway to ensure safer crossings, the Minister for Transport, Works, and Infrastructure, Hon. Ebrima Sillah, has announced that the government will construct only one pedestrian flyover as part of a pilot initiative. More in the report.