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.

The Gambia’s Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Hon. Mod K. Ceesay, has issued a press statement announcing that the cement excise duty will be reinstated from D30 to D180 per 50 kg bag, effective 1st February 2026.

More in the publication.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, under the leadership of newly sworn-in Minister Hon. Mod K. Ceesay, has issued a series of press releases announcing the moratorium on onions and potatoes and the reinstatement of excise duties on the importation of bagged cement.

More in the press release.

The first week of 2026 began on a positive note for Askanwi Media after it blew the whistle on telecom operators for failing to comply with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) D75 per 1GB price ceiling, announced on 19th December 2025.

Follow Askanwi’s week-long advocacy journalism for the reduction of data prices under the price floor, which featured interviews with PURA and Gamcel.

After Askanwi blew the whistle yesterday, 6th January 2026, Africell and QCell revised their data tariffs from D130 to D65 per 1GB. This leaves Gamcel as the only telecom operator still charging D130 per 1GB—D55 above the price ceiling set by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).

Our reporter spoke to PURA and Gamcel about the lack of compliance and if customers will be refunded for overcharging during the first six days of 2026.

Almost one week into 2026, Askanwi Media can reveal that only Comium appears to be complying with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) newly announced data price ceiling. Months after over 23 protestors were jailed for petitioning PURA’s D50 per 1GB price floor, PURA eventually succumbed to their demands to abolish the price floor and introduce a price ceiling, but it appears telecom companies are still not in compliance. More in the news report.

Gambian rapper and activist Ali “Killa Ace” Cham is set to release a new single titled “We Are Lawful, We Are Legal”, featuring Sparkling Black, ahead of his concert on 2nd January 2026.

The concert is set to feature the biggest names in Gambian hip hop as fans get set to swarm the Motherland Club in SeneGambia this Friday.

More in this entertainment news report.

The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has introduced a new meter transfer policy that prevents customers from moving their meters when relocating. Under the new directive, anyone changing residence will be required to purchase a new meter at a cost of D8,500. More in the news report.

It has been more than six weeks since President Adama Barrow’s government established a committee to look into the D50 per 1GB data price floor introduced by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) on 20th August 2025. A group of civil society advocates issued a statement calling for the government to act on the report which the Minister for Communications and Digital Economy noted was completed since 3rd October 2025. More in the statement.

State House yesterday announced that President Adama Barrow will embark on his annual leave, just hours after delivering a national address on “dialogue and the rule of law.” His departure comes in the wake of the death of Omar Badjie, which sparked civil unrest in Lamin. More in the report.

Article 19 issued a statement on the arrest of some 23 advocates for protesting against the PURA price floor in August 2025. The activists were remanded in Mile 2 and went on a hunger strike.

More in the press release.

As The Gambia’s new bread pricing policy takes effect, consumers are raising alarm bells over whether the promised weight increase is being honoured. Although the Ministry of Trade mandated that loaves must increase in weight to justify the jump from D10 to D12, early observations suggest a lack of monitoring—and loaves that look suspiciously unchanged. More in this news report.

On World Consumer Rights Day, The Gambia joined the global call for sustainable consumer practices, emphasising the need for responsible consumption to address urgent environmental challenges. Organised by the Consumer Protection Consortium (CPC), the event focused on promoting eco-friendly lifestyles and protecting both consumers and the environment. More in the report.

Two devastating market fires in The Gambia have left traders reeling, with authorities warning that electrical hazards and illegal connections are contributing to the growing crisis. As markets continue to burn, the economic toll and safety concerns are becoming impossible to ignore. More in the report.

Despite the Central Bank of The Gambia’s earlier projections for a decline in inflation, the latest figures show a slight increase to 10.2% in early 2025, driven largely by rising non-food costs, including housing, energy, and services. More in this publication.

Fire ravaged Brikama Sandika Market on the early hours of Friday, 30th January 2025, leaving businesses devastated as they count the millions lost in commodities, equipment and market structures. More in this report.

All Gambian GSM Companies promised to address concerns from Hon Almami Gibba of Foni Kansala on the poor network performance in the Foni’s since the change of regime from former President Jammeh to current President Barrow during the 8th Consumer Parliament organised by PURA. More in the report.

The Gambia’s Central Bank held a press conference on 23rd May 2024 revealing that headline and food inflation had declined in April 2024.

During the Finance Minister’s 2024 Budget Speech he highlighted that Inflation reached a record high 18.5% in September 2023 and noted some of the steps the government took bring down the cost of fuel and food in particular in an attempt to curb inflation and price increases.