This blog column features all Askanwi stories and publications focused on the African continent.
The Pan African
Over the past weeks, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Chad have started ordering French troops to leave their countries. This is an addition to other West African nations that have called for the departure of French troops from their territories, signalling a broader shift in the region's approach to sovereignty, security, and foreign influence. More in the report.
The three West African countries of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have broken away from ECOWAS after military leaders took over via coups and started a new Coalition of Alliance of Sahel States, marking a new chapter for African States in West Africa. More in the report.
The Gambia’s National Assembly ratified an agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 24th September 2024 on Domestic Workers Recruitment signed by the Minister of Trade, Hon Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof. Download a copy of the agreement from this article.
Since the TRRC recommended prosecution of those bearing the most responsibility, President Barrow’s government continues to tout it’s commitment to prosecution. However, back in 2021, President Barrow’s NPP attempted to go into an alliance with former President Jammeh, which failed, leaving the President in alliance with the APRC, led by Speaker Jatta. These mixed messages have necessitated this review of the government’s efforts to complete it’s implementation plan on prosecution on time.
The Gambia’s only CAF Approved Stadium was banned since March 2022 and since then the Scorpions have been forced to play all home matches outside the country. Since then the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Bakary Badjie issued multiple promises to rectify this problem. Our report ascertains if the MoYS kept any of their promises?
This feature publication highlights the experiences of plaintiffs who filed cases at the ECOWAS Court of Justice and what the ECOWAS Court is doing to enhance access to justice. The story highlights cases of enforced disappearances and violations of journalists including torture and unlawful imprisonment using laws that are still in place in The Gambia.
In July 2024, two of the country’s leading newspapers reported or published articles stating that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) rejected a partnership to establish a special tribunal in The Gambia to try perpetrators identified in the Truth, Reparations and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC).
The headlines are MISLEADING.
This Explainer is on the upcoming Commonwealth Secretary General Elections scheduled for the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on 21st to 27th October 2024.
This feature explores the journeys and initiatives of three leading artivists from The Gambia.
In a 2021 State of Affairs interview conducted by QTV’s Alieu Ceesay, President Adama Barrow declared that the extension of the ECOMIG Forces mandate in the Gambia “is about Executive decision, this is not about National Assembly.”
The Gambia Bar Association welcomes the ECOWAS approval of the establishment of a Special Tribunal in The Gambia to prosecute alleged perpetrators who bear the most responsibility for human rights violations that occurred during the era of former President Jammeh.
The Gambia’s Victim Center welcomes the ECOWAS Authority’s decision to establish a Special Tribunal in The Gambia that will prosecute persons deemed to have committed gross human rights violations in the country. More in the statement.
Two civil society organizations launched a research paper on “Gender and Migration: Spotlight on Gambian Women’s Mobility” on Friday, 13th December 2024, at Baobab Hotel. More in the article.
At the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held in Abuja, Nigeria, on 15 December 2024, a landmark decision was made to establish the Special Tribunal for The Gambia. More in the press release from the Ministry of Justice.
Born in the small village of Bambali, Sedhiou in Senegal to Guinean parents, Sadio Mané grew up with a strong passion for football and struggled to achieve his dreams. More on his inspiring journey in the story.
The Gambia hosted the inaugural West African Youth Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo from 6th to 7th December 2024. More in the news report.
Stakeholders have issued a statement urging ECOWAS Heads of States to establish a Special Tribunal in The Gambia to prosecute former President Jammeh and people who bear the most responsibility for gross human rights violations from 1994 to 2017 as detailed in the report of the defunct Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC).
The University of the Gambia hosted the 5th Cinekambiya Festival themed “The Advancement of Creative Freedom Under the Barrow Administration Since 2017” attracting and amplifying PanAfrican Voices from Senegal, Ghana Egypt, Liberia, Germany, Togo, France and host nation The Gambia. More in the news report.
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 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 West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) issued a statement condemning The Gambia Government’s use of Draconian Media Laws against Journalists.
The West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network with the support of the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Dévelopment, recently presented its situation reports on Human Rights Defenders in ten African countries during a side event at the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.
The Gambia Press Union issued a statement at the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, taking place in The Gambia on 22nd October 2024 urging the Commission to reign in on The Gambia Government to respect press freedom and implement media law reforms amongst others.
A report issued in 2024 highlights that over 2.8 million children have been impacted in 2024 after over 14,000 schools were closed. This number increased from 2.5 million children impacted in 2023 when some 13,000 schools were closed. More in this report.
Askanwi conducted a two day in house training for journalists organised by Fact Space West Africa / Ghana Fact on September 30th and October 1st 2024 on FactChecking.
The Government of President Diomaye Faye and the Opposition dominated Parliament are currently threatening to dissolve each other with the President set to dissolve Parliament tomorrow, 12th September 2024.
International Freedom of Expression Institute, Article 19, flew into The Gambia last week to meet stakeholders and warn about the dangers of the Cyber Crime Bill currently in Parliament.
Ghanaian Victims petitioned The Gambia’s Minister of Justice during a public lecture on the Transitional Justice process today 3rd May 2024. The petition titled “The Cry of the Ghanaian Victims of the 2005 Gambia Killing”, includes concerns and five demands for The Gambia Government signed by 36 people.
The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recently executed 102 male inmates convicted of armed robbery at Angenga prison in northwest Congo. The men, aged between 18 and 35, were identified as “urban bandits” or "Kulunas" who were involved in armed robberies. More in this report.