Gambia Inter-Religious Council Engages Stakeholders to Promote Peace Ahead of 2026 Elections
As The Gambia prepares for the 5th December 2026 presidential election, the Gambia Inter-Religious Council (GIRC) convened religious leaders, community representatives and social media influencers to develop messages focused on child protection, peaceful coexistence and social stability on Thursday 22nd October 2026.
More in the news report.
Coffee Seller Pleads Guilty to Defiling a Minor
A coffee seller, Momodou Salieu Jallow, has been remanded at Mile 2 Prison pending sentencing after pleading guilty to a charge of defilement of a minor, which leads to pregnancy. Jallow appeared before Magistrate B. Sowe on 14th October 2026 and pleaded guilty to the charge brought under Section 5(1) of the Sexual Offences Act, 2013.
More in this court report.
Mahawa Cham Case: ECOWAS Court Adopts Amicable Settlement for Jammeh Era Unlawful Killing
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has adopted as a Consent Judgment an amicable settlement reached between the Government of the Republic of The Gambia and eight family members of Mahawa Cham in the case of Binta Jarju, Isatou Fatty, Lamin Cham, Bakary Cham, Fatou Cham, Kaddy Cham, Omar Cham and Limam Cham v. The Republic of The Gambia.
More in this press release.
Gambian Security Institutions Validate Guiding Principles for Border Officials
Gambian Security Institutions validated a set of Guiding Principles and Professional Standards for Border Officials aimed at strengthening professionalism, accountability, and people-centred border management across the country’s border crossing points.
More in this news report.
Man Remanded for Assaulting Brother Suffering From Mental Health with Cutlass
The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court has remanded one Tamsir Secka to Mile 2 Central Prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his younger brother, Musa Secka, with a cutlass, causing grievous bodily harm.
More in this court report.
Jammeh Potomac Mansion Funds: Reparations Commission Releases More Details
The Gambia Reparations Commission wishes to inform the victim community and the general public about the current status of USD 2,507,911.73 (Two Million, Five Hundred and Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eleven US dollars and Seventy-Three Cents) recovered from the forfeiture and sale of former President Yahya Jammeh’s Potomac property in the United States of America.
More in the press release.
Victim Center Issues Statement Clarifying Team Gambia “Endorsement” Statement
The Gambia’s Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations issued a statement clarifying Team Gambia’s “endorsement” statement as political actors progress coalition building ahead of the 2026 December 5th Presidential Elections.
More in the press release.
GPU Laments Impunity for Attacks Against Journalists Ahead of December 2026 Elections
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) has called for stronger accountability for attacks against journalists, urging state and police prosecutors to ensure that cases involving media workers are properly investigated and prosecuted where evidence supports legal action ahead of the 5th December 2026 presidential election.
More in the news report.
Nationwide Training to Strengthen Women Victims’ Access to Gender-Sensitive Reparations Begins
The Gambia Reparations Commission, together with the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), the Alliance of Victim-Led Organizations (AVLO), and with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), will conduct a nationwide capacity-building training programme for women victims on gender-sensitive forms of reparations.
More in the press release.
Court Rejects Bail for Alleged Rapist, Grants Co-Accused D100,000 Bail
The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court has refused bail to accused rapist Saikou Sowe Sidibeh and ordered him remanded at Mile Two Prison. However, the court granted bail to his co-accused, Jawara, in the sum of D100,000 with two responsible adults as sureties in connection with an alleged rape case involving an underage girl.
More in this court report.
Football Coach Slammed 7 Years for Sexual Assault of 10-Year-Old Boy
The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court has sentenced Ansumana Gassama to seven years’ imprisonment after convicting him of an unnatural offence involving a 10-year-old boy in the Kanifing Municipality.
More in the Court Story
SDKJ-ICC Restriction: Sahrawi Advocates Call for Investigation into OIC Silencing
Human Rights Defenders from Western Sahara have written a formal letter to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in Banjul calling for an investigation into their censoring at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center (SDKJ-ICC) during the ACHPR’s 87th Ordinary Session earlier this year.
More in this statement.
GPU President Warns: “A Story about a Child Told Without Care Does Not Stay in One Newsroom”
The President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), Ms. Isatou Keita, has urged journalists to exercise greater care when reporting on children, warning that a story told without consideration for a child’s rights and dignity can quickly spread beyond the newsroom and have lasting consequences on their lives.
More in the news report.
"I Never Thought That I Would Have Done It," says Man Convicted of Unnatural Act Involving Minor in KM
The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court has convicted Ansumana Gassama, a Gambian adult, for engaging in an unnatural act involving a male minor in Kanifing Municipality.
More in this court report.
Raise the Young Foundation Hosts Girls’ Summer Bantaba
On Tuesday, 28 July 2026, the Raise the Young Foundation successfully launched the maiden edition of the Girls Summer Bantaba at the Kanifing Municipal Library. The event marked the beginning of a transformative journey designed to empower young women with leadership skills, knowledge, confidence, and the tools needed to become active agents of change in their communities.
More in the press release.
Sanna Manjang Takes Witness Stand for First Time, Recounts Kanilai Security Operations
Former soldier Sanna Manjang, whom the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission has mentioned as committing serious crimes, including torture, during the former regime, has taken the witness stand for the first time in his trial before the High Court in Banjul.
More in this court report.
Door-to-Door: South African Mobs Escalate Xenophobic Violence Against Suspected Migrants
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.
Despite 11 Torture Complaints, No One Has Been Prosecuted Under Anti-Torture Act
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.
Reparations Commission Updates Victims at WAVE Human Rights Festival
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.
D3 Million Fine Proposed for ‘Aggravated Migrant Smuggling’ Under New Immigration Bill
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.
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