June 2022
Epidemic on Gambian roads
There is a silent epidemic in The Gambia. Road accidents are the 7th highest cause of death in the country and reportedly costs economic loss of over D2 billion every year. Unenviably, the Gambia is the world's 4th worst place to be on the road. Yet, as Chief Surgeon Marenah explains, 'we have one hospital, the EFSTH the trauma unit, which looks at all the serious accidents and injuries. And, there are only three native orthopaedic surgeons for a population of 2.5 million.In this data-driven visual feature story, which is part of our election reporting series, Malagen shines light on...
May 2022
Hate Speech Alert: Lamin King Colley’s anti-immigrant comment
Gambia’s head of the mobile traffic unit is accused of anti-immigrant comments that are hateful. Lamin ‘King’ Colley singled out non-Gambian Fulas as responsible for taking Gambian jobs, leaving young Gambians.
No amnesty for Sanna, Edward, ex-VP Njie-Saidy, but some junglers may walk free
The TRRC’s amnesty committee had received and reviewed 25 applications for amnesty. Out of that, 11 were dismissed, 8 were denied, 5 were approved and 1 was referred to the Attorney General’s office. The government accepted all of TRRC's recommendations on amnesty except one. With it, at least three people who served at the second-highest office in the country as well as a former army chief may face long-waited justice for their alleged crimes of human rights violations. This story looks into who does and does not get an amnesty The 1994 junta vice chair Sanna Sabally could be put...
How gov’t spares NIA chief Sowe
A number of high profile government officials have been found to have participated in the human rights violations that occurred under the former government. There is to be punishment, ranging from prosecution to ban from holding public office. But not all will face justice as the government takes exception for calls for punishment for some. This article looks into how the government’s decision on the TRRC recommendations affect those working in government. The director general of the National Intelligence Agency has been spared from ban from holding public office as the government says the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) does...
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April 2022
Factcheck: was D669m gov’t expenditure queried by auditors done under Pres. Barrow or Jammeh?
The auditors had made it clear in the report that the withdrawals were made from an account inherited from the Jammeh administration and ordered closed on their recommendations. Instead, the OP under Barrow reopened them “with the same account name but a different account number”.
Profiting from rebellion: Inside ‘blood timber’ traffickers network in Gambia
Trafficking of timber is a multi-million dollar business that sustains a rebellion in Casamance, southern Senegal. In this investigation, Malagen exposes how a band of smugglers and business people in the Gambia, some of them politically connected, continue to profit from the illicit trade in what has become known as ‘blood timber’. The government is complicit. At the expense of lives and livelihoods, the presidency and environment ministry often waive the rules and authorise illegal export of timber in the name of ‘maximising revenue’ for the government.
Opposition make comeback but ruling NPP leads in parliamentary election
The Gambia’s opposition parties and independents have made a surprise comeback in the April 9 parliamentary elections after suffering defeat in the Dec.4 presidential election of last year. They have won a combined 29 seats, representing majority of the elective seats in the country. But they would ultimately fall slightly short of securing a simple majority in the National Assembly. THIS GRAPH IS INTERACTIVE: Hover over it to see no. of seats by party. Also, on the top left corner, you can click on the year to see total no. of seats by party, from 1997 to 2022 The ruling NPP...