December 2024
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...
November 2024
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...
October 2024
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...
September 2024
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...
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...
Factsheet: Performance of Gambian Students in WASSCE 2024
By Kaddy Jawo The West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results have been released with more than 18,000 Gambian registered students took the regional standard test to conclude their secondary education level. In this factsheet, we analyse the public data provided by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) following the release of the results in August. Number of students registered for WASSCE According to the Ministry, 18,042 Gambian Grade 12 students were registered to take the exam. The number is representative of 148 senior secondary schools across the country, administered by West Africa Examination Council. WASSCE credential is a requirement for...
August 2024
Factsheet: All You Need to Know as Michael Sang Correa’s Trial Begins Next Month in the US
Come September, Michael Sang Correa, one of the most prominent members of the former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh’s special assassin team ‘jungulars’ is set to appear before the US court in Colorado. Correa, now 45, was indicted by the US Justice Department on seven counts for his role in inflicting torture and suffering on victims, especially following the 2006 alleged coup attempt to remove Jammeh from power. He has also been accused of having participated in the extrajudicial killings of journalists Dayda Hydara in 2004, Chief Ebrima Manneh in 2012, and the murder of Gambian-Americans Alhagie Mamut Ceesay and Ebou Jobe in...
May 2024
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...