UN body suspends Gambia’s rosewood trade license

The UN treaty body responsible for the protection of endangered plants and animals has announced suspension of Gambia’s license for commercial trade in rosewood. The decision takes immediate effect, from the June 8 announcement. CITES – short for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species – cited ‘exceptional circumstances generated by the documented pervasive trade’ [in rosewood] in violations of its convention. The decision came after the Gambian authorities failed to submit evidence to show that rosewood exports from the country are legal and not detrimental to the environment. When contacted, the CITES focal person in the country, Mawdo Jallow, said...

June 24, 2022Investigations, The Big Story
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Child diarrhea cases surge as sewage runs on Cape Town streets

Like clockwork, diarrhea among children spikes sharply during Cape Town’s long summer. The city tends to blame the heat and people’s poor hygiene practices, but its own sewage infrastructure may be the real culprit. In this edition of Super Friday, we are in Cape Town, South Africa, where Steve Kretzmann goes beyond the headlines to dig into what might be the real causes of the spikes in diarrhoea in that country. This investigation was produced in collaboration with the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism. Click HERE to read the story

June 17, 2022Investigations, The Big Story
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Justice, at last, is on the horizon

President Adama Barrow’s decision to prosecute his predecessor Yahya Jammeh and his henchmen – and a woman – for murderous crimes has received widespread public support. For victims like 22-year-old Fatou Barrow (not related to President Barrow), who was just five months old when her father was shot and killed, justice, at last, is on the horizon. But has it always been so?In this election investigation series, Malagen unravels how the pursuit for justice for Jammeh-era crimes has been a classic case of game of thrones, a story of politics of deceit, betrayal and ambition.Faced with what he admitted...

June 10, 2022Investigations, The Big Story
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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...

June 3, 2022Investigations, The Big Story
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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...

May 25, 2022Current Affairs, The Big Story
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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...

May 25, 2022Current Affairs, The Big Story
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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.

April 22, 2022Investigations, The Big Story
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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. https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/9340304/ 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...

April 13, 2022Election Hub, The Big Story
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Minister, security chiefs, others who face risk of ban, prosecution 

A cabinet minister and security chief are among nearly a dozen public officials who face risk of ban from holding public office. Some may at the same time be subjected to criminal prosecution. This is a punishment proposed to be imposed on them by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission. The TRRC last month wrapped up nearly three years of investigations into human rights violations that were reportedly committed during the tenure of former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh - July 1994 to January 2017.  Nearly four hundred witnesses testified during the inquiry. The revelations in the TRRC...

January 15, 2022Feature, Investigations
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Raped and brutalised: Penny Appeal orphans long wait for no justice

Hundreds of orphans have been abused and exploited in orphanages operating illegally in the Gambia for six years. The main culprits are Penny Appeal, a UK-based international charity with injured reputation and a possible con artist in philanthropic clothing. He operates a chain of businesses and charities, raking in profits on the backs of the orphans under his care. The children want justice for the rape and mistreatment meted out on them. But they might as well be waiting for justice that may never arrive. With the perpetrators allegedly using money, influence and threats of marabouts, the state authorities have retreated, if...

January 7, 2022Investigations, The Big Story
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