Newly elected Youth MP for Latrikunda Sabijie, Ousainou J. Sawaneh, has committed to championing youth voices and driving inclusive policies at the National Youth Parliament. Building on his work as a community leader and founder of a football academy, he plans to raise awareness about the Parliament’s role while empowering under-represented groups. More in the news report.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape institutions worldwide, including journalism, The Gambia Press Union (GPU) is taking proactive steps to guide its responsible use in the media. With support from International IDEA, the union has embarked on a review of its Cherno Jallow Code of Conduct for Journalists, aiming at setting ethical standards for AI usage, among emerging issues. More in the news report.

Mr Sainey Senghore, a survivor of the April 10/11, 2000, student protests, has called for school uniforms to be preserved as a symbol of learning rather than politics. Speaking in the wake of an exchange of press releases between the government and a civil society organisation over students in uniform participating in an anti-corruption protest, the human rights advocate cautioned against their use in welcoming presidents or joining demonstrations, warning that such practices risk politicising education and undermining the neutrality of schools. More in the report.

The recent death of prominent activist Alain Christophe Traoré in custody and a series of cybercrime trials against journalists underscore the rapid erosion of civic space in the Sahel. Transitional military governments are increasingly using anti-cybercrime laws to silence critics, raising alarm over freedom of expression and human rights in the region. More in the report.

The Gambia has welcomed 20 Nigerian professors and lecturers who will serve in key universities and higher education bodies for the next two years in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s academic and institutional capacity. More in the news report.

The Ministry of Information has issued a statement announcing redeployments in the Foreign Affairs Ministry and in The Gambia Maritime Administration. More in the press release.

Two international whistleblower protection organisations and partners have issued a statement in support of Gambian whistleblower Alhaji Mamdi Kurang, who raised the alarm on the alleged corruption surrounding the Janneh Commission and the sale of assets fraudulently acquired by former President Jammeh. More in the press release.

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.