Multiple news outlets have reported that South African mobs have broken into homes where African migrants reside, arresting them, parading them through the streets, and handing them over to the police on 9th July 2026.

More in this news report.

The Gambia’s Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2023 is facing renewed scrutiny after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) confirmed that it “received 11 allegations of torture” against security personnel in 2025. However, despite the law being in force for three years, no case has yet reached the courts, a magistrate has confirmed to Askanwi.

More in this feature report.

The Women’s Association for Women and Victims Empowerment (WAVE) launched its annual human rights festival at Makumbaya on 20th June 2026, with a day of panel discussions, cultural performances, face painting and a documentary screening.

At the opening session, the Executive Secretary of the Reparations Commission announced that the Commission has disbursed D20 million in reparations to victims and is in the process of distributing an additional D5 million this year.

More in this feature publication.

The Gambia could soon impose a minimum fine of D3 million on individuals convicted of “aggravated migrant smuggling,” as lawmakers continue scrutinising the proposed Immigration Bill 2026, which seeks to criminalise migrant smuggling for the first time in the country’s history.

More in this parliamentary report.

The convening of women human rights defenders in Dakar has positioned the Afrofeminist methodology of the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) as an emerging continental model for engagement and protection. By giving defenders the first voice before state representatives, diplomats and continental institutions, the gathering reversed traditional power dynamics and placed civil society analysis at the centre of policy discussions. Participants and institutional partners framed the approach as a shift from consultation to accompaniment, arguing that the women carrying the work must also shape the response architecture designed to protect them.

More in the press release.

The Gambia is set to take a major step in tackling irregular migration as lawmakers prepare to consider a new Immigration Bill that could, for the first time, specifically criminalise migrant smuggling in the country.

The Immigration Bill 2026, which is scheduled to be tabled before the National Assembly on Monday, 8th June 2026, seeks to repeal and replace the main immigration legislation that has been in force for more than six decades.

More in this parliamentary report.

Nearly five years after The Gambia's Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) documented killings, torture, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations committed by state security agents, ANEKED Country Director Ms Sirra Ndow has called for a people-centred approach to security sector reform, stressing that the ultimate goal to ensure that Gambians never again fear the institutions meant to protect them.

More in the news report.

Western Sahara human rights defenders alleged that they are being silenced in The Gambia, highlighting that their side event at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 87th Ordinary Session was cancelled by the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre (SDKJ-ICC) yesterday, 12th May 2026.

More in the report from Banjul.

After waiting hours for a magistrate to be assigned to commence the trial, some 14 activists affiliated with the anti-corruption youth movement, Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), were granted court bail on Monday, 11th May 2026, after being charged with unlawful assembly and common nuisance by police.

More in the court report.

As risks against journalists persist in the country, participants of the recent Gambia Press Union’s (GPU) Hazardous Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) have revealed that the programme has become a critical lifeline, equipping them with skills that could mean the difference between safety and serious harm.‍

More in the news report.

In a quiet room where strategy meets concentration, a new movement is taking shape, positioning chess as a powerful tool for mental development and inclusion. In The Gambia, a joint initiative by the Gambia Chess Federation (GCF) and the Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) is opening doors for Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), using the game’s ability to sharpen memory, strengthen problem-solving skills, and build critical thinking.

More in the news report.

The Gambia has appointed Special Prosecutor, Martin Hackett, who is set to lead investigations and prosecutions involving former President Yahya Jammeh and 68 other individuals identified by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) for alleged crimes committed during his regime.

More in this news report.

For years, many children living with disabilities in the country have been kept out of classrooms, excluded from opportunities, and judged by their limitations rather than their potential.

However, a renewed sense of hope has emerged through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), under its programme for the provision of assistive devices to children with disabilities. The initiative forms part of a broader regional effort to strengthen inclusion and reduce vulnerability.

More in the news report.

In a landmark development for The Gambia’s justice system, the judiciary has inaugurated the Special Criminal Division of the High Court at Mile 7 in Bakau, a move widely hailed as a pivotal step in advancing the nation’s long running transitional justice process.

More in the news report.

A survivor of the April 2000 student massacre has criticised President Adama Barrow and his government for their continued silence and neglect, warning that many are suffering and dying without support.

More in this report.

Jollof News journalist Mr Momodou Justice Darboe, who was scheduled to appear before Banjul Magistrate’s Court this morning, 20th April 2026, to face charges of common nuisance, has been postponed indefinitely.

More in the report.

The Online Media Association of The Gambia (GOMA) is urging the Gambia Police Force to drop its common nuisance charge against Jollof News journalist Momodou Justice Darboe. Darboe has been charged with common nuisance by the police and is expected in court on Monday, 20th April 2026.

More in the press release.

The coroner's inquest into the death of Omar Badjie, which sparked protests in Lamin Mandinary, has concluded that his death was caused by police officers who assaulted him physically. The press release issued today from the Office of the Chief Justice recommends the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider criminal proceedings against the police officers involved. More in the press release.

In March 2026, the Ministry of Information issued an infographic claiming that the government is “strengthening laws to protect press freedom and journalists. It is also implementing reforms recommended by the TRRC. In addition, it works with the Gambia Press Union to promote a safer environment for journalists.”

However, Dr Ceesay’s recent introduction of the Broadcasting and Online Content Regulations 2026 has revealed a deep division with the media, and our feature article underlines that the TRRC success claims are not as they appear.

The Gambia Online Media Association issued a statement thanking its members for the successful boycott of the Ministry of Information and PURA’s consultation on the regulations which they believe will usher in an era of state-controlled media.

More in the press release.