The Gambia’s 2024 Draft Constitution suffered a decisive blow in the National Assembly after the Minority Caucus voted against it during the crucial Second Reading on 7th June 2025, denying the bill the three-quarters majority required for passage. Despite support from the Majority Caucus, the constitution failed to clear the legal threshold, marking the second time Parliament has blocked efforts to replace the 1997 Constitution. More in this 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.

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.

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.

“We need this bill, for God’s sake.” With those impassioned words, Hon. Momodou Lamin B. Bah reignited calls to scrap The Gambia’s century-old Lunatic Detention Act—an outdated law that continues to undermine the rights and dignity of people with mental illness. More in this report.

The Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, launched a three-day workshop in Bakau on 25th February 2025, aimed at improving reporting under the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW). The event highlighted The Gambia's ongoing efforts to align its domestic policies with international human rights standards, particularly in relation to migrant workers' rights. More in the report.

President Adama Barrow will give an early State of the Nation Address for 2025, just a week before the Second Reading of the 2024 Draft Constitution in Parliament. The address highlights the government’s focus on governance and constitutional reform. More in the report.

The Gambian Judiciary conducted a two-day training session for legal practitioners and court staff on commercial law and court management to establish an effective commercial court. More in the report.

The Gambia's Chief Justice, Hon. Hassan B Jallow presided over the swearing-in ceremony of six newly appointed first-class magistrates at his Chambers in Banjul on Monday 10th February 2025. More in the publication.

The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) conducted a one-day training for Members of the National Assembly on Post-Legislature Scrutiny on Saturday, 18th January 2024. More in the report.

As Gambians await a new Constitution, with strong opposition from opposition party leaders and several civil society organisations, Justice Minister Hon. Dawda A. Jallow has pledged to defend the 2024 Draft Constitution in Parliament. More in the report from the first Mansakunda Townhall of 2025.

Presiding Judge, Justice Sonia Akinbiyi of the Banjul High Court Annex, has ordered the referral of the ongoing case between Environment Minister Rohey John Manjang and Senior Investigative Journalist Kebba Ansu Manneh of The Alkamba Times to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for mediation, following the failure of negotiations between the two parties to reach a resolution. More in the report.

The Justice Minister, Hon. Dawda A. Jallow, tabled the 2024 Draft Constitution in Parliament for its First Reading on Monday, 23rd December 2024. More in the report.

Hon Fatoumatta Njie of Banjul South maintained her parliamentary seat for Banjul South but lost her application for series of injunctions against the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party, Mr Kebba Jallow on Thursday 5th December 2024.
More in the story.

This report revisits The Gambia’s responsibility to invest time and resources to replace the century old Lunatics Detention Act still in use since the Colonial period as recommended by the ACHPR some 21 years ago. Our report interrogates the government’s efforts to improve mental health care in the country.

The Minority Leader for the Sixth Legislature raised a Point of Order labelling the tabling of the 2025 Budget by the Minister for Finance as unconstitutional. After an eventful session which was interrupted twice, Speaker Jatta ruled for the Finance Minister to apologize and proceed with tabling the Budget.

The ACHPR has noted that it would investigate claims by the Gambia Press Union that Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression are in decline because of the Government’s reluctance to repeal draconian media laws and acting on threats to utilize said laws to summon media personnel to court.

The Coalition of Progressive Gambians (CoPG) have been issued a protest permit by the Gambia Police Force yesterday 5th November 2024 to protest tomorrow, 7th November 2024 in Banjul for a return of the 2020 Draft Constitution.

After the Fifth Legislature shockingly rejected the 2020 Draft Constitution in September 2020, Justice Minister, Hon Dawda Jallow is scheduled to table the 2024 Draft Constitution in Parliament in November 2024.

The Government of the Gambia under the auspice of the Judicial Service Commission headed by the Chief Justice appointed three new first-class Magistrates and one Justice of the Peace on 25th September 2024 at the Banjul Court House Building in Independence Drive.