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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bakary Camara, the Alkalo of Sarra Kunda village in The Gambia’s North Bank Region, has revealed his alleged arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, and forced exile under the regime of former president Yahya Jammeh, declaring himself ‘the first victim of Jammeh-era abuses in the community’. More in this moving story.

When more than 70 Gambian children began dying from Acute Kidney Injury after ingesting contaminated medicines, parents were forced into a frantic search for dialysis care — often beyond the country’s borders. What many did not know was that a Diaspora-led haemodialysis initiative, capable of saving lives, had been years in the making but never implemented in The Gambia.

More in this news report.

Communities and victims across several villages in The Gambia’s North Bank Region (NBR) have voiced growing frustration over what they describe as ‘the slow pace of justice for human rights violations committed during the 22-year rule of former president Yahya Jammeh,’ questioning the government’s commitment to implementing key accountability measures.

More in the news report.

In the run-up to the December 2021 presidential election, Lead Counsel Essa Mbaye Faal took the bold decision to contest for the presidency before the submission of the TRRC report.

This publication looks into his decision juxtaposed with President Barrow’s NPP-APRC coalition, which victims warned threatened the implementation of the TRRC recommendation.

Almost five years back, Faal enthused that President Barrow had no intention to implement the TRRC report and urged Gambians to hold him accountable for this.

This report was first published on Gainako back in 2021 in the run-up to the presidential elections.

After a parliamentary inquiry in September 2025 compelled the Minister for Justice to disclose how much funds have been disbursed to the Victims Reparations Commission, the Ministry issued this press release on the matter.

In the statement, the Ministry revealed that it has disbursed D22.8 million out of the D30 million allocated to the Victims Reparations Commission for 2025.

More in the press release.

The Gambia’s Reparation Commission has issued a statement announcing the commencement of the Reparations Commission.

The Commission received D17.5 million from the government in late 2025, which it is yet to completely disburse. This year [2026], D20 million has been approved for reparations payment, the same as last year.

More in the Commission’s statement.

The first week of 2026 began on a positive note for Askanwi Media after it blew the whistle on telecom operators for failing to comply with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) D75 per 1GB price ceiling, announced on 19th December 2025.

Follow Askanwi’s week-long advocacy journalism for the reduction of data prices under the price floor, which featured interviews with PURA and Gamcel.

After Askanwi blew the whistle yesterday, 6th January 2026, Africell and QCell revised their data tariffs from D130 to D65 per 1GB. This leaves Gamcel as the only telecom operator still charging D130 per 1GB—D55 above the price ceiling set by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).

Our reporter spoke to PURA and Gamcel about the lack of compliance and if customers will be refunded for overcharging during the first six days of 2026.

The interim leader of the National Alliance Accelerated Advancement (NAFAA), Ousainou Allen, has called for the recent irregular migration deaths off the coast of Jinack to be treated as “a national tragedy,” as official figures confirm dozens dead and others still missing. More in the news report.

Almost one week into 2026, Askanwi Media can reveal that only Comium appears to be complying with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) newly announced data price ceiling. Months after over 23 protestors were jailed for petitioning PURA’s D50 per 1GB price floor, PURA eventually succumbed to their demands to abolish the price floor and introduce a price ceiling, but it appears telecom companies are still not in compliance. More in the news report.

The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), Dr. Habibatou Drammeh, has declared a zero-tolerance stance on examination malpractice, as investigations near completion into 631 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results flagged for suspected cheating in 2025, a dramatic rise from just 28 cases the previous year. More in this news report.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has claimed that American armed forces carried out an overnight military operation in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, in what he described as a “dark and deadly” assault ordered directly by him.

Trump warned that this may not be the last such operation, saying a second wave of attacks remains on the table. He also declared that the United States would run Venezuela during a transition period, warning that the country’s political and military leaders could face the same fate as Maduro. More in this news report.

Gambian rapper and activist Ali “Killa Ace” Cham is set to release a new single titled “We Are Lawful, We Are Legal”, featuring Sparkling Black, ahead of his concert on 2nd January 2026.

The concert is set to feature the biggest names in Gambian hip hop as fans get set to swarm the Motherland Club in SeneGambia this Friday.

More in this entertainment news report.