The Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice has issued a statement showing solidarity with a statement from former Gambia Press Union presidents warning that the government plans to control the media through a new policy and a regulation.

In their statement, EFSCRJ argues that the hard-won freedoms and democracy will be weakened by the government’s permission-journalism regime.

More in the statement.

Five former presidents of the Gambia Press Union have issued a warning on the government’s plans to introduce state-controlled registration and accreditation of journalists through the National Press Accreditation Policy and the Broadcasting and Online Content Regulations, 2025.

The former presidents argue that this will empower executive discretion and plunge the country back into the dark days of permission-based journalism.

More in the statement.

The Gambia’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) hosted its annual validation workshop on the 2025 State of Human Rights Report today, 9th March 2026. Attended by various stakeholders from civil society organisations, law enforcement officers, and others, Solicitor General Mr Hussein Thomasi’s statement was not delivered because he failed to attend.

More in the report.

Police Prosecutor Commissioner Sanneh's application for a bench warrant to arrest Omar Camara was foiled after Camara arrived before the end of the court proceeding.

Commissioner Sanneh has been on a mission to re-arrest Gambian protestors. This was his second failed bench warrant application submitted to the court to arrest Gambian protestors in the space of three weeks.

More in the court report.

Yesterday, 11th February 2026, a group of human rights advocates issued a statement countering police claims that they failed to appear in court, prompting police to apply for their bench warrant and arrest.

According to the advocates the magistrate assigned to the case has passed away and no magistrate has been assigned to their case.

More in the statement.

Migrant smuggling is not currently criminalised under Gambian law, a gap that severely limits the ability of authorities to prosecute those involved in facilitating irregular migration, according to Inspector Alkali Jammeh, a Lead Investigator at the Migration Unit of the Gambia Immigration Department (GID). However, our investigation reveals that since 2023, a Bill has been validated, which could criminalise smuggling but is currently languishing between cabinet ministers. More in the news report.

Residents of Sambang Fula in Niamina have recounted experiences of victimisation during the era of former President Yahya Jammeh, as the Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations (Victims’ Center) continued its Musical Caravan outreach involving community dialogue and public engagement.

More in the news report.

The Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations (Victims’ Center) has completed Phase Two of its nationwide Musical Caravan outreach across the North Bank Region (NBR), Central River Region (CRR), and Upper River Region (URR), marking a major milestone in efforts to deepen grassroots engagement on transitional justice in The Gambia.

More in the news report.

Civil society actors in The Gambia express deep concern over recent public remarks by Dr Ismaila Ceesay directed at Madi Jobarteh and the Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice. These remarks must be understood within a broader and troubling pattern of delegitimising critical civic voices rather than engaging with the substance of their concerns. In particular, the questioning of the legitimacy of the Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice—and, by extension, the credibility of its founder—raises serious issues for democratic discourse. More in the statement.

Aisha Jammeh says true reparations go beyond financial compensation and must include the prosecution of those responsible for atrocities committed during the Jammeh regime. Having lost her father to a state-sanctioned killing, she argues that justice and accountability are central to healing for victims and their families. Her call echoes growing demands for the government to fully implement the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission.

This article was first published in the build up to the conclusion of the TRRC.

As the Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission was winding down, there was significant uncertainty around the government’s pledge to fund victims’ reparations. Our reporter spoke to the Chair of the Reparations Committee, the then Chairperson of the Victim Center, the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations, and the Technical Director of the Women’s Association for Women and Victims Empowerment (WAVE).

Now that reparations payments have recommenced, the government has still not fulfilled its promise to fully fund the reparations commission.

This publication was first issued in 2020. More in this report.

The Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) flew four victims who testified before the Commission to Turkey in December 2019 for urgent medical treatment. After three of the victims returned from Turkey in late 2020, our reporter published this article, highlighting the lessons learnt during the interim reparations process.

More in this publication first published in 2020.