July 2025
Tanji Bird Reserve Carved Up? Inside Deals To Turn Protected Land Into Profit
The Government has quietly divided and doled out a large tract of land - equivalent in size to more than 30 standard international football fields - believed to be carved out of the Tanji Bird Reserve by President Jammeh. The new owners - well, those named so far - include lawyer and politician Essa Faal; a Senegalese businessman and financier of President Barrow, Khalilou Wague; and a Gambia-based Indian businessman, Nandkishore Rajwani, who reportedly uses different names to amass land from the state.
Justice Minister Eliminated These Laws. These Experts Do Not Have Kind Words About It
The government made more than 126 changes when revising the draft constitution. About half of these concern provisions related to anti-corruption, human rights and checks on the president’s power. Almost all of them were gutted, and now Mr. Ibn Chambas is pushing to succeed where former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan fell short
April 2025
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...
Hate Speech Alert: NPP Supporter Targets PPP Candidate in Half-Die By-Election
This two-party contest is seen as a highly significant election that could mirror the direction of the forthcoming presidential elections next year. Two candidates are vying for the seat, one from the ruling National People’s Party and another from a former ruling party, the Progressive People’s Party.
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...
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...
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...
December 2024
Stained by Period Blood, Girls Are Pushed Out of School
Malagen investigates how poverty, stigma and myths deny girls access to menstrual hygiene products, forcing them to miss critical school hours, fall behind in their studies or even drop out of school entirely