The Victim Centre is well into its musical caravan in its quest to raise awareness of the government’s White Paper responding to the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC).

During the tour, victims continued to demand reparations and prosecution of perpetrators identified in the report. Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice has responded to a parliamentary inquiry on the government’s disbursement of funds to the newly established Reparations Commission. More in the report.

The Women’s Association for Women and Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE) hosted a pivotal roundtable discussion with religious leaders on Friday, 29th August 2025, under the theme: “The role of faith organisations in promoting healing and reconciliation in the Gambia.” More in the news report.

A peaceful protest outside PURA without procession has landed 23 Gambians in court, exposing stark inconsistencies in how the state applies the Public Order Act, just months after Gamtel/Gamcel staff protested at the gate of their office at Westfield without a single arrest.

The arrest of peaceful protesters opposing PURA’s controversial mobile data tariff hike has sparked a wave of condemnation from Gambian and international civil society organizations, who are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees.

From the Solo Sandeng Foundation to regional and pan-African movements like Activista Africa and Africans Rising, rights groups warn that the crackdown mirrors a troubling pattern of repression, undermining the very freedoms Gambians fought to reclaim after Jammeh’s rule.

The arrests and detention of youth protesters challenging PURA’s D50-per-1GB mobile data price floor have once again exposed deep cracks in The Gambia’s security sector, raising fears of a return to Jammeh-era tactics where “orders from above” justified unlawful detentions, brutality, and disregard for due process.

Despite promises of reform after the TRRC, what happened at PURA’s office and the subsequent crackdown have reignited public concern over police discipline, accountability, and the right to peaceful assembly.

The Gambian Government issued a statement condemning the death of a one-month-old baby girl after allegedly undergoing the practice of female genital mutilation/ circumcision (FGM/C). The statement welcomes the conviction of the three suspects involved in her death and warns citizens to abide by the law against FGM/C. More in the statement.

The Red Dolphin Gambia Lifeguard Association has appealed to the Gambian government to provide urgent support and lifesaving equipment as drowning incidents continue to rise along the country’s coastline during the summer break. More in the news report.

A day after the shocking death of a one-month-old baby, Sarjo Conteh, on 9th August 2025, the “heartbroken” Children National Assembly of the Gambia (CNAG) issued a statement condemning the practice and called on the government to ensure justice is done. More in the article.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region held its 54th Annual Regional Conference in The Gambia for the first time, under the leadership of their current president, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, the Speaker of the National Assembly. Attended by Gambian President Adama Barrow, the opening ceremony featured statements from both leaders focusing on the theme “Strengthening Democracy, Governance and Resilience in Africa: Tackling Conflicts, Economic Shocks, and Climate Risks.” More in the report.

Three women have been charged in connection with the death of a one-month-old baby girl following female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in The Gambia. Police Commissioner Abdoulie Sanneh confirmed the charges during a National Human Rights Commission training on the Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015, revealing that one accused faces life imprisonment while two others have been granted bail. More in the report.

Mr Sainey Senghore, a survivor of the April 10/11, 2000, student protests, has called for school uniforms to be preserved as a symbol of learning rather than politics. Speaking in the wake of an exchange of press releases between the government and a civil society organisation over students in uniform participating in an anti-corruption protest, the human rights advocate cautioned against their use in welcoming presidents or joining demonstrations, warning that such practices risk politicising education and undermining the neutrality of schools. More in the report.

The recent death of prominent activist Alain Christophe Traoré in custody and a series of cybercrime trials against journalists underscore the rapid erosion of civic space in the Sahel. Transitional military governments are increasingly using anti-cybercrime laws to silence critics, raising alarm over freedom of expression and human rights in the region. More in the report.

In a country rebuilding from decades of rights violations, a new generation is leading the charge for change—starting in the classroom. The Human Rights Friendly School initiative honored three schools on July 30th for embedding human rights into school life, echoing the TRRC’s call for civic education and non-recurrence. More in the news report.

In Mali and Burkina Faso, authorities are intensifying their suppression of civil liberties, targeting journalists, artists, and public figures with arrests, travel bans, and intimidation. Despite widespread condemnation from human rights groups and calls for transparency, these actions persist unchecked, reflecting a growing pattern of impunity that threatens freedom of expression and democratic participation across the Sahel region. More in the report.

What appears to be a clean waterway by day transforms into a dumping ground by night. In communities along the Kotu and Manjai streams, residents say their lives are being upended by clandestine waste disposal and blocked channels that turn seasonal rains into destructive floods. More in the news report.

Haunted by memories of the brutal 2005 massacre of over 50 West African migrants in The Gambia, relatives of the victims returned to Banjul 20 years later to demand justice, the exhumation and return of their loved ones’ remains, and an increase in compensation to $1 million per victim.

Marking two decades since the killings, the delegation submitted a petition to Gambian authorities, calling for concrete action to prosecute former President Yahya Jammeh and to fully implement the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission’s recommendations.

More in the report.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) warns of worsening press freedom in the Sahel, where military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Guinea are cracking down on journalists and activists. The MFWA urges regional and international bodies to act quickly to protect democracy and free expression. More in the publication.

Since 2020, the Sahel region has witnessed a surge of military coups that have toppled civilian governments in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, ushering in junta regimes with little to no constitutional oversight. This upheaval has led to systematic restrictions on fundamental freedoms—particularly freedom of expression, access to information, and the right to assemble—dramatically shrinking civic space and threatening the very foundations of democracy across the region. More in the publication.

The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) announced that a total of D205,820,780 has been earmarked for reparations. This was revealed at a press briefing held on 16th July 2021. More in this publication.

The Women’s Association for Women and Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE), in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), commemorated the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on Thursday, 26th June 2025, with a Stakeholders’ Dialogue held at Bakadaji Hotel. More in the report.