Five CSOs Commemorate 26 Years Since April 2000 Student Massacre, Demand Government Action
As five civil society organisations rally public support for the April 2000 Students Massacre, their statement reveals government inaction, noting that only one TRRC recommendation relating to the incident and protest has been completed since May 2022 when the state accepted the recommendations.
More in this press release.
GPU, Media & CSOs Reject Government’s State-Controlled Media Plans
As the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) prepares to conclude its public consultation today, 10th April 2026, the Gambia Press Union, the media and civil society organisations have issued a statement rejecting the government’s proposals and consultation.
According to the statement, the regulations will give the state the authority to decide who becomes a journalist underpinned by a registration regime allowing the state to suspend and revoke licenses for media platforms and social media users.
More in this statement.
Special GBV Court Offers Renewed Hope as Major Cases Put Justice System Under Spotlight
The government’s plan to inaugurate a Special Court for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) has renewed hope among survivors, women’s rights advocates, and the wider public at a time when the country’s justice system is facing increased scrutiny over how sensitive and high-profile cases are handled.
More in this publication.
Bojang Siblings Finally Released After Two-Day Protest
A high-profile criminal case that has gripped the nation since 2023 reached a dramatic conclusion on 1st April 2026, as Ousainou Bojang and his sister, Amie Bojang, were finally released from state custody following a High Court acquittal, public protests, and mounting pressure on authorities.
More in the news report.
EFSCRJ: Gambia Government's Plans to Control Press Will Weaken Democracy
The Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice has issued a statement showing solidarity with a statement from former Gambia Press Union presidents warning that the government plans to control the media through a new policy and a regulation.
In their statement, EFSCRJ argues that the hard-won freedoms and democracy will be weakened by the government’s permission-journalism regime.
More in the statement.
Five Former GPU Presidents Raise Alarm on Gov’t Accreditation and Regulation Plans
Five former presidents of the Gambia Press Union have issued a warning on the government’s plans to introduce state-controlled registration and accreditation of journalists through the National Press Accreditation Policy and the Broadcasting and Online Content Regulations, 2025.
The former presidents argue that this will empower executive discretion and plunge the country back into the dark days of permission-based journalism.
More in the statement.
Solicitor General Misses NHRC’s 2025 Human Rights Report Validation Workshop
The Gambia’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) hosted its annual validation workshop on the 2025 State of Human Rights Report today, 9th March 2026. Attended by various stakeholders from civil society organisations, law enforcement officers, and others, Solicitor General Mr Hussein Thomasi’s statement was not delivered because he failed to attend.
More in the report.
Sanna Manjang Murder Trial: Investigator Admits Accused Was Not Present During Kanilai Visit
The trial of Sanna Manjang continued on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, at the High Court in Banjul, with dramatic exchanges unfolding as the second prosecution witness took the stand in a case that has drawn national attention over alleged killings linked to Kanilai.
More in the court report.
Omar Camara’s Late Arrival Foils Police Prosecutor’s Arrest Warrant Application
Police Prosecutor Commissioner Sanneh's application for a bench warrant to arrest Omar Camara was foiled after Camara arrived before the end of the court proceeding.
Commissioner Sanneh has been on a mission to re-arrest Gambian protestors. This was his second failed bench warrant application submitted to the court to arrest Gambian protestors in the space of three weeks.
More in the court report.
23 Accused Insist They Attended All Hearings, Question Police Bench Warrant Bid
Yesterday, 11th February 2026, a group of human rights advocates issued a statement countering police claims that they failed to appear in court, prompting police to apply for their bench warrant and arrest.
According to the advocates the magistrate assigned to the case has passed away and no magistrate has been assigned to their case.
More in the statement.
Migrant Smuggling Not a Crime in The Gambia, Immigration Official Reveals
Migrant smuggling is not currently criminalised under Gambian law, a gap that severely limits the ability of authorities to prosecute those involved in facilitating irregular migration, according to Inspector Alkali Jammeh, a Lead Investigator at the Migration Unit of the Gambia Immigration Department (GID). However, our investigation reveals that since 2023, a Bill has been validated, which could criminalise smuggling but is currently languishing between cabinet ministers. More in the news report.
Sambang Fula Residents Recount Victimisation During Jammeh Era
Residents of Sambang Fula in Niamina have recounted experiences of victimisation during the era of former President Yahya Jammeh, as the Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations (Victims’ Center) continued its Musical Caravan outreach involving community dialogue and public engagement.
More in the news report.
Victims’ Center Deepens Grassroots Understanding of TJ Process After Second Musical Caravan
The Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations (Victims’ Center) has completed Phase Two of its nationwide Musical Caravan outreach across the North Bank Region (NBR), Central River Region (CRR), and Upper River Region (URR), marking a major milestone in efforts to deepen grassroots engagement on transitional justice in The Gambia.
More in the news report.
Over 40 Advocates Condemn Information Minister’s Verbal Attacks on Madi Jobarteh
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.
Aisha Jammeh “Reparations Means Seeing Perpetrators Being Prosecuted”
Aisha Jammeh says true reparations go beyond financial compensation and must include the prosecution of those responsible for atrocities committed during the Jammeh regime. Having lost her father to a state-sanctioned killing, she argues that justice and accountability are central to healing for victims and their families. Her call echoes growing demands for the government to fully implement the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission.
This article was first published in the build up to the conclusion of the TRRC.
TRRC Confident of Government Commitment Despite Failed D50 Million Payment
As the Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission was winding down, there was significant uncertainty around the government’s pledge to fund victims’ reparations. Our reporter spoke to the Chair of the Reparations Committee, the then Chairperson of the Victim Center, the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations, and the Technical Director of the Women’s Association for Women and Victims Empowerment (WAVE).
Now that reparations payments have recommenced, the government has still not fulfilled its promise to fully fund the reparations commission.
This publication was first issued in 2020. More in this report.
Lessons Learnt from the TRRC’s Interim Reparations “Turkish Medical Trip”
The Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) flew four victims who testified before the Commission to Turkey in December 2019 for urgent medical treatment. After three of the victims returned from Turkey in late 2020, our reporter published this article, highlighting the lessons learnt during the interim reparations process.
More in this publication first published in 2020.
Victims’ Center Slams Gov’t Over Failure to Declare April 10–11 School Holidays
The Coordinator of the Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations (Victims’ Center), Mr Kebba Jome, has criticised the government for failing to implement key recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), notably the declaration of April 10th or 11th as official school holidays to commemorate the 2000 student massacre. More in the news report.
TRRC Report Submitted to MoJ, Next submission to the President
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.
My Brother Is Among Nearly 200 Migrants Lost on the Backway, Journalist Tells Foreign Minister
A Gambian journalist revealed that his brother is among almost 200 migrants feared dead at sea after a boat departing from Nuimi Jinack in late 2025 disappeared without a trace.
Journalist Landing Ceesay questioned the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the government’s efforts to monitor such tragedies and confirm the deaths. More in the news report.
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