The Ministry of Trade has issued a statement announcing that three Gambian migrants have absconded after arriving in Spain to participate in the recently established Gambia-Spain Migration Programme, which has seen scores of Gambians travel to Spain to work in the agricultural sector. More in the press release.

In a bid to enhance transparency and deepen public understanding of its work, The Gambia’s National Audit Office (NAO) held a two-day engagement with journalists from across the country, aiming to strengthen collaboration and improve media coverage of public sector audits. The workshop, held from 30th to 31st July 2025 in Bakadaji, brought together reporters from television, radio, print, and online platforms to explore the NAO’s mandate, governance structure, and audit processes.

In a country rebuilding from decades of rights violations, a new generation is leading the charge for change—starting in the classroom. The Human Rights Friendly School initiative honored three schools on July 30th for embedding human rights into school life, echoing the TRRC’s call for civic education and non-recurrence. More in the news report.

In Mali and Burkina Faso, authorities are intensifying their suppression of civil liberties, targeting journalists, artists, and public figures with arrests, travel bans, and intimidation. Despite widespread condemnation from human rights groups and calls for transparency, these actions persist unchecked, reflecting a growing pattern of impunity that threatens freedom of expression and democratic participation across the Sahel region. More in the report.

What appears to be a clean waterway by day transforms into a dumping ground by night. In communities along the Kotu and Manjai streams, residents say their lives are being upended by clandestine waste disposal and blocked channels that turn seasonal rains into destructive floods. More in the news report.

Haunted by memories of the brutal 2005 massacre of over 50 West African migrants in The Gambia, relatives of the victims returned to Banjul 20 years later to demand justice, the exhumation and return of their loved ones’ remains, and an increase in compensation to $1 million per victim.

Marking two decades since the killings, the delegation submitted a petition to Gambian authorities, calling for concrete action to prosecute former President Yahya Jammeh and to fully implement the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission’s recommendations.

More in the report.

According to the latest presser from the Ministry of Health, only one case of Mpox has been detected so far, which led to the announcement of an outbreak. The presser calls for the public to remain calm and provides advice on what to do if Mpox is suspected. More in the presser.

The Ministry of Health The Gambia issued a statement on the detection of a case of Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, which causes rashes and blisters on the skin. This virus was declared an outbreak of international concern by the WHO in August 2024 and has since affected numerous African countries. More in the press release.

The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights & Justice (EFSCRJ) and the Women’s Association for Women & Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE-Gambia) have urged the Gambian government to fast-track the identification of human remains exhumed during the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) process, warning that four years of inaction have deepened the trauma of victims’ families and undermined the country’s transitional justice efforts. More in the press release.

With climate change and food insecurity threatening livelihoods across the continent, youth from six West African countries came together in The Gambia to craft bold, innovative solutions for transforming the region’s food systems. More in the press release.

As climate change continues to threaten coastal communities in The Gambia, a new initiative is empowering journalists to spotlight stories of resilience and survival. This week, 25 reporters from across the country gathered in Kartong for a five-day training workshop organized by the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACCA), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and the Gambia Press Union (GPU). The training aims to equip journalists with the tools to report accurately and ethically on environmental and disaster-related issues—bringing community voices to the forefront and countering misinformation that can cost lives. 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.

In a major step forward for youth representation in The Gambia, the National Youth Parliament (NYP) has elected 53 young parliamentarians through its first-ever fully youth-led, constituency-based election. Announced on 16 July 2025, the results mark a new chapter in democratic participation, with thousands of young voters casting their ballots despite funding and logistical hurdles. More in the news report.

Civil society actors, journalists, and sector experts gathered in Kololi for a three-day workshop aimed at transforming how citizens engage with the national budget—shifting focus from figures on paper to real-world impact in essential sectors like education, healthcare, and agriculture. Organized by Gambia Participates in partnership with the International Budget Partnership, the training emphasized the importance of understanding budget implementation and holding government accountable for how public funds are spent. More in the news 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 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.

As The Gambia’s new bread pricing policy takes effect, consumers are raising alarm bells over whether the promised weight increase is being honoured. Although the Ministry of Trade mandated that loaves must increase in weight to justify the jump from D10 to D12, early observations suggest a lack of monitoring—and loaves that look suspiciously unchanged. More in this news report.

The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) announced that a total of D205,820,780 has been earmarked for reparations. This was revealed at a press briefing held on 16th July 2021. More in this publication.

The Women’s Association for Women and Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE), in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), commemorated the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on Thursday, 26th June 2025, with a Stakeholders’ Dialogue held at Bakadaji Hotel. More in the report.