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 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.

"Torture is a no-go area," declared a senior police officer during a landmark human rights training organized by the Women’s Association for Victims and Women Empowerment (WAVE), signaling a shift in law enforcement culture as The Gambia deepens its commitment to accountability and the rule of law. More in the report.

Beakanyang Kafo, a leading civil society organization in The Gambia, held a powerful two-day cultural and reconciliation festival titled the "Badingbung Reconciliation and Unity Festival" from 31st May to 1st June 2025, at Kabafita Upper Basic and Senior Secondary School in Brikama. More in the report.

Magistrate Peter Che of Basse has raised the alarm over the ongoing practice of witchcraft accusations in the Basse, describing it as a dangerous legacy of the past now magnified by social media. The Magistrate emphasized that although the former president is no longer in power, the issue of witchcraft accusations persists. More in this report.

Kololi, The Gambia — The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) concluded its 83rd Ordinary Session on 22nd May 2025 with a powerful call for justice and reparations for Africans and people of African descent. Held under the theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparation”, the session brought together government officials, civil society leaders, and international partners to confront historical and ongoing injustices, urging unified efforts to advance human rights across the continent. More in the report.

Basse, Upper River Region — “We are dying without justice,” echoed one voice among many as victims of Yahya Jammeh’s brutal regime gathered under a mango tree in Manneh Kunda. Years after the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) concluded its work, survivors are still waiting—some in pain, others already gone—while the government drags its feet on promised reparations. More in the report.

In a decisive effort to advance disability rights and strengthen national accountability mechanisms, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in collaboration with UNICEF, concluded a two-day capacity-building workshop for the National Disability Advisory Council (NDAC) at the Senegambia Beach Hotel on 15th May 2025.

More in the report.

Bijilo, The Gambia – 8th May 2025 – At a key side event during the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), human rights leaders and civil society actors issued a strong call for bolstering early warning systems, emphasising that timely, credible data is essential to preventing rights violations across Africa. More in the report.

“Workplaces must be safe for all.” With this powerful message, the NHRC convened a workshop with the government, partners and the private sector to adopt its Generic Sexual Harassment Policy for the Workplace. The landmark event took place on 7th May 2025 at the Senegambia Beach Hotel. More in the report.

Childbirth is meant to be a life-giving process, but for many African women, it has become a source of trauma. A recent side event during the 83rd ACHPR session spotlighted obstetric violence, urging states to adopt comprehensive legal and policy reforms. More in the report.

Despite constitutional guarantees of peaceful assembly, The Gambia’s Public Order Act continues to be wielded against activists, with the recent arrest of members of Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) highlighting ongoing tensions between civil liberties and state control. More in the report.

At the 83rd ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in The Gambia, panellists underscored the urgent need to prevent torture and ill-treatment across Africa, emphasizing strategic frameworks, country-level initiatives, and the vital role of civil society in combating such abuses. More in the publication.

Gambian authorities clashed with activists on 8th May 2025, as police arrested several demonstrators who were protesting the government's handling of former President Yahya Jammeh’s seized assets. The protesters, who gathered near the Arch in Banjul, demanded greater transparency in the sale of Jammeh’s assets, which many citizens believe undermines the country’s transition to justice and accountability. More in this publication.

In a strong call for accountability and redress, human rights advocates, civil society organizations, and policymakers gathered in The Gambia for the NGO Forum on Reparative Justice, spotlighting the urgent need to address the enduring legacy of slavery, colonialism, and systemic racism across Africa and its diaspora. More in the report.

In 2023, The Gambia ranked 5th in Africa and 46th globally, positioned between the United States and South Korea. However, this year, the country has fallen to 11th place, marking a setback for the ambitious goal set by the new Information Minister to make The Gambia the top-ranked country in Africa for press freedom. Achieving this target will require strong political will and critical legal reforms to surpass Sierra Leone, Liberia, and other African nations. More on this in the full report.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) officially opened its 83rd Ordinary Session on May 2, 2025, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, The Gambia. Centred on the theme of justice and reparations, the session brings together human rights defenders, government officials, and stakeholders from across Africa to tackle pressing issues such as accountability, human rights violations, and pathways toward reparative justice. The three-week event will shape critical decisions aimed at protecting and advancing human and peoples’ rights across the continent. More in the report.

Ahead of World Press Freedom Day, African movements have issued an urgent call to action as civic space crumbles under the popular leadership of President Captain Ibrahim Traoré in Burkina Faso. A joint statement signed by 18 movements and activists has condemned “kidnappings” under the regime and urged the international community to intervene, as journalists and dissenting voices are being rounded up. More is detailed in this revealing press release, which highlights how opposing voices are being forced to face jihadists in the Sahel.