WASHINGTON, May 29, 2025 — The World Bank has approved $52.6 million in financing for The Gambia to improve transport and energy infrastructure access in select areas and strengthen institutional capacity for service delivery. The project will directly benefit over 100,000 people through enhanced road connectivity and expanded electricity access. More in the press release.

Press freedom is experiencing a worrying decline in many African nations. The region records the highest number of countries with declining economic indicators as 80 per cent have seen their economic scores drop. In many cases, media ownership is concentrated in the hands of a few private groups close to those in power and individuals with political interests, which compromises newsrooms’ editorial independence. More in the press release.

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.

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.

The Personnel Management Office has announced that over 2,000 individuals across the civil service and security forces were flagged in the 2024 staff audit as could not be seen. Recovery of wrongful salary to 1,424 civil servants is underway, and payments to 679 security personnel are being halted for April 2025. More details in the official press release.

The United States Department of Justice issued a statement on the conviction of alleged former Jungler Michael Sang Correa for torturing five of his victims on 15th April 2025. More in the presser.

An IMF team visited Banjul, The Gambia from April 2 to April 16, 2025, to review how The Gambia is doing under a financial support program. The program is a 36-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) totalling US$100.9 million that started in January 2024. More in the press release.

Michael Sang Correa, an alleged member of a Gambian death squad, is scheduled to stand trial for torture starting on April 7, 2025. This marks the first time a non-U.S. citizen will stand trial in a U.S. federal court for torture committed abroad. More in the press release.

Africa is owed US$36 trillion in climate debt by rich polluting countries, a new report by ActionAid shows. More in the press release, which contains a link to download the report.

Parliament’s Media Team issued this statement, highlighting that a no-show by Janjanbureh Council has resulted in a scheduled oversight meeting being cancelled. As a result, a Parliamentary Select Committee’s planned oversight trip to visit sites in the regions has also been cancelled. This is not the first time such disruption is occurring from Janjanbureh Council. More in the presser.