President’s UNGA Claim ‘no political prisoner since 2017’ is misleading

Claim: No political prisoner, journalist and human rights defender had been jailed since 2017 Source: President Adama Barrow Verdict: Misleading Gambian President Adama Barrow claimed at the 79th UN General Assembly that there had been no jailing of political prisoners, including human rights defenders and journalists, in the country since 2017. However, Malagen's media monitoring and fact-checking verified this claim as misleading. The president made the claim during his UNGA speech delivered on Thursday, September 26 2024 held at the New York headquarters in New York, United States. On page 9 of the statement, he made the following assertions:  "I am happy to...

September 27, 2024Factchecking, Uncategorized
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Dangerous speech alert: Barrow tells NPP supporters to stand firm, and fight back

The Gambian President Adama Barrow has called on his National People's Party (NPP) supporters to stand firm and fight anyone who insulted them.  The president’s remarks were captured in a viral audio circulating on WhatsApp. The recording was made during the launch of NPP’s newly constructed political bureau in Badibu Kerewan, North Bank Region on Wednesday May 22, 2024.  On May 9th, State House announced that President Barrow will embark on outside office activities to tour industrial areas and inaugurate rural health centres starting May 10 and returning on May 23. Such activities have already taken place as planned.  Photo credit: State House...

May 25, 2024Factchecking, Media Monitoring
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Dangerous speech alert: Barrow threatens non­­-partisan public servants, likens them to pest

In the just concluded meet-the-people tour, the Gambian leader Adama Barrow has threatened to take a non-disclosed action against public officers who are claimed to be non-partisan in government. He likened them to pests. His comments constitute dangerous speech.  Context  The Gambian president conducts a constitutionally mandated tour at least twice every year. The tour is meant to see first-hand the situation across the country and engage with the people on government policies and programmes.  Section 222(15) of the 1997 Constitution gives the President of The Gambia the constitutional mandate to “… undertake a nation-wide tour at least twice a year in order...

December 13, 2023Media Monitoring
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Hate speech alert: Borry Colley calls on Jolas to vote for Bakary Badjie, attacks Talib 

In a video clip circulating on major social media platforms, including Facebook and several online news media platforms, the former ruling APRC parliamentarian Borry Colley has openly and publicly called on his fellow ethnic Jolas to rally behind a fellow Jola, Bakary Badjie in the mayoral contest for Kanifing Municipality. He has also attacked Badjie’s main rival, the incumbent of KMC, Talib Bensouda, as ‘someone from Lebanon’. His comments have been flagged as hate speech.  

May 19, 2023Election Hub, Media Monitoring
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Hate speech alert: NPP supporter attacks Bensouda as non-Gambian

A ruling NPP supporter identified as Jali Burama Jobarteh has made comments flagged by Malagen media monitoring as hate speech. The viral video clip has been published widely on social media and online news media. His hateful comments are directed at the mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, Talib Ahmed Bensouda. He describes Bensouda as a non-Gambian and calls on the electorate to vote against him based on his origin.

May 19, 2023Election Hub, Factchecking
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