Civil society actors in The Gambia express deep concern over recent public remarks by Dr Ismaila Ceesay directed at Madi Jobarteh and the Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice. These remarks must be understood within a broader and troubling pattern of delegitimising critical civic voices rather than engaging with the substance of their concerns. In particular, the questioning of the legitimacy of the Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice—and, by extension, the credibility of its founder—raises serious issues for democratic discourse. More in the statement.

The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) has announced that they will be submitting their much-anticipated TRRC Final Report and Recommendations (Final Report) to President Adama Barrow on Thursday, 25th November 2021.

More in the news report first published in 2021.

In the run-up to the December 2021 presidential election, Lead Counsel Essa Mbaye Faal took the bold decision to contest for the presidency before the submission of the TRRC report.

This publication looks into his decision juxtaposed with President Barrow’s NPP-APRC coalition, which victims warned threatened the implementation of the TRRC recommendation.

Almost five years back, Faal enthused that President Barrow had no intention to implement the TRRC report and urged Gambians to hold him accountable for this.

This report was first published on Gainako back in 2021 in the run-up to the presidential elections.

The interim leader of the National Alliance Accelerated Advancement (NAFAA), Ousainou Allen, has called for the recent irregular migration deaths off the coast of Jinack to be treated as “a national tragedy,” as official figures confirm dozens dead and others still missing. More in the news report.

The People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) was forced to adjourn its elective congress yesterday, 28th December 2025, to 24th January 2026 due to a lack of quorum. More in the news report.

Eighteen (18) out of twenty-two (22) registered political parties in The Gambia have signed a historic communiqué committing to concrete reforms to advance women’s political participation and representation, following the successful conclusion of a two-day National Conference on Women’s Political Participation and Representation. More in the press release.

The Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission has announced the dates for the next electoral cycle, 2026 to 2027, covering presidential, National Assembly and local government elections. More in the news report.

President Adama Barrow addresses the nation after the alleged death of Omar Badjie from Lamin Mandinary last week. Read the full statement in this link.

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.

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.

The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) convened a high-level workshop on Friday, 18th July 2025, bringing together women leaders, lawmakers, and civil society actors to confront the systemic barriers limiting women’s participation in Gambian politics. Held at Bakadaji Hotel in Kololi, the forum aimed to spark action-oriented dialogue and strengthen pathways for inclusive political leadership and decision-making across the country. More in the report.

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 National Youth Parliament (NYP) is set to hold its upcoming elections with at least eleven candidates running unopposed, according to the nomination list. At a recent press conference in Serrekunda, the NYP Election Committee provided updates on the nomination process and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, youth empowerment, and inclusive participation. More in this publication.

In a bold reaffirmation of political alignment, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay has declared Citizens Alliance’s unwavering support for President Barrow’s government—marking a dramatic evolution for a party once seen as a fierce opposition force. More in this publication.

As the 2026 presidential elections approach, the Citizens' Alliance (CA) has reaffirmed its unwavering support for President Adama Barrow. During their congress in Soma on April 26, 2025, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, the party’s leader, pledged that the CA would vote for Barrow’s re-election. More in the press release.

The Chairperson of the Alliance of Victim-Led Organisations issued a press release in disagreement with statements by the leader of the Gambia Moral Congress, Mai Fatty, labelling the prosecution of former President Jammeh as “unwise.” More in the statement.

A summary of the National Human Rights Commission’s advisory notes on the Elections Bill and the Draft Constitution reveals how the government has taken a lackadasical approach to progressing the rights of Gambians in the Diaspora to vote. More in this notice.

Despite multiple attempts by NAMs to reintroduce Clause 14, which mandates the registration of diaspora voters, the effort has been blocked by Deputy Speaker Hon. Seedy S. Njie and the Majority Caucus. This impasse has stalled parliamentary proceedings, preventing progress beyond seven clauses by 13:00 hrs. More in the report.

Gambian CSO leaders urged Parliamentarians to restore the deleted Clause 14 in the Elections Bill to register Gambians living abroad to vote in the 2026 Presidential Elections. More in the report.

African politics has long been male-dominated, but a transformation is underway. Women are rising to the highest office, challenging norms, and reshaping governance. The election of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as Namibia’s first female president in 2025 marks a turning point in the push for gender-inclusive leadership. More in this publication.