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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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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Corruption, Coercion and Cover-up: How Roy escapes justice for alleged sex abuse of Teneng and Jongfolo 

New evidence has emerged in the story of Roy Webster, a British national resident in The Gambia, shedding light into how he managed to evade justice for the alleged sexual abuse of two 12-year-old girls, identified only as Teneng and Jongfolo. Through admissions obtained from parents and undercover investigations, Malagen uncovers a web of corruption and collusion implicating both the police and parents. Not only did money exchanged hands, but also one of the parents who now says he ‘can’t lie anymore’ appears to be facing veiled threats to provide false testimonies to protect Roy

April 14, 2024Investigations, The Big Story
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AKI Tragedy Exposed: How Indian drugs claim lives of over 70 children in The Gambia

Concerns remain even after the release of the presidential task force report on the acute kidney injury outbreak that claimed the lives of more than 70 children. The report has seemingly been left to gather dust. Thousands of the banned and contaminated India drugs are still unaccounted for. More contaminated drugs have been discovered. The pharmaceutical industry, marked by entrenched conflict of interest, greed and systematic violation of healthcare laws, continues its tragic norm within the medicines regulatory system. To date, no one has been fully held accountable for the tragedy.

December 31, 2023Investigations, The Big Story
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A Tale of Two Countries: How Alleged Drug Traffickers from Guinea Bissau Find Home in Gambia

A Tale of Two Countries: How Alleged Drug Traffickers from Guinea Bissau Find Home in Gambia In late 2019, one of Guinea Bissau’s most notorious alleged drug tycoons fled to The Gambia following leaked information of his imminent arrest.  Barely two years later, another alleged heavyweight drug trafficker, who was being pursued by Bissau authorities, sought sanctuary in Banjul. Another one, known in Bissau as Escobar, has allegedly laundered drug money in...

November 9, 2023Investigations, The Big Story
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Gambia College suspends staff over alleged rape attempt 

A picture taken by Isha a day after the incident shows bruises on her neck The Gambia College has suspended Alasana Janneh, an admin assistant over the alleged rape attempt on a female student at his office last month. On September 24, a Malagen investigation exposed how Janneh, 32, who is responsible for entering grades for students at diploma primary level at the college, lured the 22-year-old student at his office at night and tried to force sex with her in exchange for entering her grades.  Three days later, he appeared before Brikama Magistrates Court presided by Magistrate A.B Faal, and...

October 2, 2023Investigations
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“Shut up. If not, I will kill you.” Disturbing audio captures voice of a man attempting “to rape” a girl at Gambia College

“Leave me. You are hurting me,” begged a girl in distress, as she could be heard gasping for air and coughing. “Are you trying to kill me?” A defiant, alleged rapist, held onto her throat, demanding she stopped shouting. “Why are you shouting? If not, I will kill you here,” said a man in the audio. He is Alasana Janneh, a fair-coloured, 32-year old Administrative Assistant at the Gambia College School of Education, who allegedly lured 22-year old *Isha into his office with the promise of entering her missing grades in Cross Cutting, English and Music. At about 8:...

September 24, 2023Investigations, The Big Story
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