Yaya Darboe’s Harrowing Testimony Reveals Correa’s Brutal Torture Techniques
DENVER, 9th April 2025 - In a gripping and emotional testimony delivered in a Denver courtroom, Gambian army officer Yaya Darboe recounted the brutal torture he endured at the hands of Correa and the notorious Junglers. Darboe, a Lieutenant Colonel then, identified defendant Michael Sang Correa as one of the men who burnt him with plastic, beat him unconscious, and laughed as he was hoisted and dropped in a sack—acts he described as unthinkable from someone he once knew as a disciplined soldier. More in the report.
Wave of Suspicious Deaths Leaves Communities in Shock
A disturbing pattern of suspected suicides has shaken several communities across the country, with four individuals found dead under similar circumstances within a span of just five days. Authorities have launched investigations into each case, while fear and uncertainty continue to spread among residents. More in the report.
Michael Correa’s First Torture Victim Identifies Him in Court
DENVER, 8th April 2025 — In a gripping courtroom moment that brought decades-old atrocities into sharp focus, Michael Sang Correa was directly identified by his alleged first torture victim during testimony in a U.S. federal court. The witness, Alieu Jobe, recounted years of brutal abuse under the regime of former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, marking a pivotal moment in a landmark human rights trial that seeks justice for the victims of state-sponsored torture in The Gambia. More in the report.
Prosecutor and Defense Put Up Vivid Opening Statements on Landmark Correa Torture Trial
DENVER, 8th April 2025 — In a historic trial drawing international attention, federal prosecutors and defense attorneys delivered powerful and contrasting opening statements in the case against Michael Sang Correa, a former member of The Gambia’s notorious Junglers unit, accused of torturing six men in the aftermath of a failed 2006 coup. As courtroom drama unfolded on the second day, both sides laid out vivid narratives of guilt and survival, setting the stage for a trial that will revisit one of West Africa’s darkest political chapters through the lens of American justice. More in the report.
Exiled Gambians Meet Vice President and Justice Minister for Safe Return
Representatives from Kerr Mott Ali, currently exiled in Senegal, recently met with Vice President Muhammed BS Jallow and the Minister for Justice, Hon. Dawda Jallow, to advocate for their return home, as dictated by a High Court ruling in their favour. More in the report.
Alleged Gambian Death Squad Member to Stand Trial for Torture in Denver, Colorado
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.
Gamcel Employees: Salary Restored, But Bigger Issues Remain
Despite assurances from the newly appointed Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Hon. Lamin Jabbie, that Gamcel staff salaries have been restored to normal, concerns persist over unresolved grievances outlined in a staff petition. More in this parliamentary report.
NHRC Advisory Highlights Government’s Lackadaisical Approach on Diaspora Vote
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.
President Barrow Reaffirms Commitment to Transparency in ATI Meeting
The Access to Information (ATI) Commission met with President Adama Barrow at State House on 18th March 2025, to discuss efforts to improve public access to information. While progress has been made, challenges remain in fully enforcing the Access to Information Act. More in the publication.
Death of Ex-Jungler Brigadier General Bora Colley Sparks Calls for Transparency
The death of Brigadier General Bora Colley, a former officer in The Gambia Armed Forces and a notorious member of the Jungler death squad under former dictator Yahya Jammeh, has sparked renewed calls for transparency from the Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice Study (EFSCRJ). More in the report.
From Harmony to Hostility: The Gambia’s Struggle with Illegal Firearms
The Gambia has long been known for its peaceful nature and tightly knit communities, where villages and cities have felt like safe havens. However, beneath this calm exterior lies a growing public concern over the spread of illegal firearms. More in this report.
Heartbreaking Truth: Infants Among Rape Victims in Sudan’s War
Amidst Sudan’s ongoing violent conflict, a horrific and largely unseen crisis is unfolding, exposing the cruellest depths of war. More in this report.
Breaking Barriers: WoJAG Equips Female Journalists with SGBV Reporting Skills
In a country where women’s voices in media remain underrepresented, the Women Journalists Association of The Gambia (WoJAG) is taking a stand. Through a two-day training program that concluded on 28th February 2025, the organization has empowered 25 female journalists with the tools to report on gender-sensitive issues, particularly SGBV, with professionalism and ethical responsibility. More in the story.
Demba Kandeh: Access to Information is the Disinfectant to Public Ills
Freedom House Gambia Representative highlighted that Access to Information (ATI) is the disinfectant to public ills during the validation of the National Road Map for the Implementation of the ATI Act. More in the report.
AVLO Chair: “Slow Pace” of Govt’s Implementation of TRRC Recommendations is an Understatement for Victims
Despite various human rights defenders giving the government credit for implementing only 16 out of the 262 recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC), the Chairperson of the Alliance of Victim-Led Organisations (AVLO), Ms. Sirra Ndow, has expressed the victim’s dissatisfaction with the “slow pace” of progress. More in the publication.
Gambia Bar Association Welcomes ECOWAS Approval of Special Tribunal in The Gambia
The Gambia Bar Association welcomes the ECOWAS approval of the establishment of a Special Tribunal in The Gambia to prosecute alleged perpetrators who bear the most responsibility for human rights violations that occurred during the era of former President Jammeh.
The Gambia’s Victim Center Welcomes ECOWAS Approval of Special Tribunal in the Country
The Gambia’s Victim Center welcomes the ECOWAS Authority’s decision to establish a Special Tribunal in The Gambia that will prosecute persons deemed to have committed gross human rights violations in the country. More in the statement.
Researchers Reveal Women’s Experiences on Migration from The Gambia and West Africa
Two civil society organizations launched a research paper on “Gender and Migration: Spotlight on Gambian Women’s Mobility” on Friday, 13th December 2024, at Baobab Hotel. More in the article.
Chief Supt Colley: “Shocking” TRRC Revelations Should Serve as Turning Point for Police
During the opining ceremony of a two days training for Police Officers on the Prevention of Torture organized by the National Human Rights Commission, Police Supt Colley informed his colleagues that the shocking TRRC revelations should serve as a turning point for the Police. More in this detailed publication.
University of Calabar Wins NHRC’s 5th Int. Human Rights Moot Court Competition
In commemoration of International Human Rights Day, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and partners marked the day with their 5th International Human Rights Moot Court, named after first President of the Republic of The Gambia, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara. More in the report.
Donate to Askanwi
Why Support Askanwi?
Donate to Askanwi's GoFundMe: Support Askanwi - Reliable News for The Gambia
Askanwi is dedicated to bridging the gap for reliable, balanced, and citizen-centered news that directly impacts the lives of its readers.
By closely monitoring the progress of the country's transitional process, Askanwi continues to lead with powerful human interest stories, including the ongoing coverage of the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) crisis, the drafting of the new Constitution, and the rollout of the Transitional Justice Program—just to name a few.
Your generous support will enable Askanwi to continue its important work: following the AKI saga, breaking stories of corruption, investigating public malfeasance, producing quarterly newsletters, and ensuring the continued operation of Askanwi Media.
Donate to Askanwi’s GoFundMe: Support Askanwi - Reliable News for The Gambia