Basse Magistrate Decries Witchcraft Accusations as WAVE Engages Community
Magistrate Peter Che of Basse © Askanwi
By Edward Francis Dalliah
Basse, URR – Magistrate Peter Che of Basse has raised the alarm over the ongoing practice of witchcraft accusations in Basse, describing it as a dangerous legacy of the past now magnified by social media. The magistrate emphasised that although the former president is no longer in power, the issue of witchcraft accusations persists.
He noted that “most of these accusations are mental and coming out of frustrations when people are faced with particular difficulties”. Magistrate Che made these remarks during a community engagement held on Friday, 23rd May 2025, organised by the Women’s Association for Women & Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE). The engagement is part of a series of activities implementing a Post-TRRC project funded by the UN Peace Building Fund (UNPBF) with support from UN OHCHR and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The event, which aimed to address witchcraft accusations and promote community dialogue and healing, coincided with the circulation of a viral video from Basse Kabakama, which showed an elderly woman being publicly accused of witchcraft. The footage sparked widespread concern over the resurgence of witch-hunts in the region and evoked painful memories among victims of the former president’s regime.
Magistrate Che further emphasised the escalating impact of social media by pointing out that what the community of Basse has witnessed is worse than before, as now social media is being used to amplify it, not just heard or seen by the community or region, but all over the world. As a legal authority, he clarified that Gambian law does not recognise or prosecute witchcraft, stating it is ‘not known by the law’. He therefore urged citizens to seek dialogue and ‘refrain from making unfounded accusations’.
During the event, WAVE Program Coordinator Ms Mariam J. Ceesay reminded attendees of the country’s recent history under former President Yahya Jammeh. She projected a documentary for delegates featuring testimonies from victims of the witch-hunt saga during former President Jammeh’s rule.
A representative from the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Philip Gomez, also addressed the community by sensitising them about the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission’s (TRRC) recommendations and highlighting its significance in the post-TRRC process.
The TRRC report stated: “In 2008, believing that his aunt was killed by witchcraft, the former President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh ordered those women and men suspected of being witches and wizards to be arrested and taken to different parts of Kanilai [his hometown], where they were detained, ill-treated, tortured, and subjected to sexual violence.”
The report also noted that arrests occurred across the country. One victim, Ceesay Bujiling, was reportedly killed because the president believed he intended to use witchcraft against him to ascend to a higher rank among witches and wizards in Foni.
The continuation of witchcraft accusations today threatens national reconciliation efforts and violates the “Never Again” principle that emerged from the TRRC process. While these accusations predate Jammeh’s witch-hunt campaign, the beliefs are deeply rooted in society, having been practised for generations, and they continue to persist today. The discussion at the event revealed that addressing witchcraft accusations requires both community awareness and collective action. With support from groups like WAVE, civil society organisations, and the wider community, affected areas can begin to heal, uphold the “Never Again” pledge, and prevent a return to fear, stigma, and injustice.
