Explainer: Can NPP Keep Seat Against Opposition Alliance in Half-Die Vote

The contest in Banjul on Saturday between recent former allies, the ruling coalition and a former ruling party backed by the opposition, promises to be a hard-fought battle - a symbolic test of political strength with a year and a half until the presidential election. Kaddy JawoKaddy Jawo heads Malagen's media monitoring and factchecking desk. She is also an investigative reporter. When the United Democratic Party (UDP) defeated its arch-rival, the ruling National People's Party (NPP) in the Kiang Masembeh by-election, its officials declared the victory a sign of what could happen in the 2026 presidential election.  Yet the main opposition...

April 25, 2025Election Hub, Explainers, The Big Story
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Michael Correa Found Guilty of Torture in Historic U.S. Verdict

By Kaddy Jawo Michael Sang Correa, a former member of The Gambia's notorious Junglers death squad, has been found guilty on multiple counts of torture in a landmark verdict delivered in a U.S. federal court in Denver. His conviction marks a rare and historic moment: only the third time in U.S. history that a person has been convicted under the extraterritorial Torture Act, and the first non-American ever to be sentenced under it. The jury found Correa guilty of conspiracy to commit torture and torture of five men: Tamsir Jasseh, Pharing Sanyang, Yaya Darboe, Pierre Mendy, and Demba Dem. These were not...

April 16, 2025Current Affairs
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Explainer: Why Is the IEC Holding a By-Election in Banjul Half-Die Ward?

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of The Gambia is holding a by-election in Banjul’s Half-Die Ward following the unexpected vacancy of the councillor position. The seat became vacant after Momodou Bah, the former councillor under the National People's Party (NPP), reportedly abandoned his post during an official visit to Belgium. The trip was part of efforts to strengthen the sister-city partnership between Banjul City Council and Ostend City Council. Bah’s prolonged absence, without any formal excuse or return to duty, prompted the IEC to invoke Section 23 of the Local Government Act and declare the seat vacant. A by-election has now...

April 9, 2025Explainers, Factchecking
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Explainer: How the IEC Chairman Is Appointed in The Gambia

What Is the IEC and Why Does It Matter? The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is a critical constitutional body in The Gambia, entrusted with the responsibility of conducting national elections, referenda, and ensuring the overall integrity of the electoral process. Its role is vital to the country’s democracy, as it ensures that elections are free, fair, and transparent. The IEC helps safeguard the democratic rights of Gambians by overseeing the entire election process—from voter registration to certifying election results. Thus, the role of the IEC Chairman is of paramount importance in maintaining electoral credibility and public trust. What Does the Constitution Say? According to...

April 8, 2025Explainers, Factchecking
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The special tribunal explained as Jammeh’s victims move closer to justice

By Kaddy Jawo The regional leadership of ECOWAS has approved a special tribunal, bringing hope for justice to more than 200 individuals confirmed to have been murdered by the repressive regime of Yahya Jammeh. In addition to extrajudicial killings, the regime systematically tortured critics and subjected dozens of women to rape and other forms of sexual violence. Since Jammeh's fall in December 2016, he has been in exile in Equatorial Guinea. Meanwhile, the succeeding administration and human rights defenders worldwide continue to work tirelessly to hold him accountable. Despite frustrations and scepticism about whether justice will ever be served, the approval of the...

December 25, 2024Feature, Indepth Reporting, Investigations, News in Graphs
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Factsheet: Why every Gambian child needs polio vaccination

By Kaddy Jawo The Gambia government has wrapped up round one of the nationwide polio vaccination in the country. It happened between the 12th and 15th of November while the second phase is expected to take place next month – the 12th to 15th of December. But here are more facts about polio as a public health emergency that make it imperative for every child in the Gambia to get vaccinated to prevent contracting the consequential ailments.  But first, what’s polio?  According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease primarily affecting children under 5. It...

November 21, 2024Current Affairs, Factchecking, Featured
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Breaking Down the Audit Report: How IEC Potentially Misappropriated over 368m Dalasi

By Kaddy Jawo The recently published National Audit report, covering the period from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023, found that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) may have misappropriated public funds totalling three hundred sixty-eight million, thirty-five thousand, eight hundred ninety-three dalasis and sixty-one bututs (368,035,893.61). The financial irregularities detected in the audit include a failure to remit collected revenue to the consolidated revenue fund, missing receipts that were not accounted for, overpayments on contracts, payments made to the personal accounts of staff, suspected diversion of public funds for personal use, suspected fraudulent payments of allowances, and unretired funds. These...

October 29, 2024Analysis, Feature, Media Monitoring, Uncategorized
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Factcheck: Dr Ceesay Falsely Suggests ‘Sadam Rice’ is Cheaper in Basse than on Kairaba Avenue and environs

Kaddy Jawo Claim: Saddam rice is cheaper in Basse than on Kairaba Avenue. Source: Minister of Information, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay Verdict: False Appearing on the State of the Nation radio programme aired on GRTS Radio on September 5th, 2024, the Minister of Information, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, suggested that the price of a bag of ‘Sadam’ rice is cheaper in the provincial town of Basse than in the Kairaba Avenue area, which is located within the Kanifing Municipality. Credit: From Africa Press Net site Ceesay, alongside Trade and Employment Minister Baboucarr Joof, were discussing various issues affecting the cost of living in The Gambia amid public...

September 18, 2024Election Hub, Factchecking, Media Monitoring
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