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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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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8 Children, Dozens Of Women Among Nearly 200 People Unlawfully Killed By Ex-President Jammeh – TRRC

The Gambia’s former president Yahya Jammeh has murdered or unlawfully killed nearly two hundred people during his 22-year rule, the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) reveals in its report made public on Friday. In total though, at least 240 were found to have been murdered by state agents under his rule. But will the Barrow administration implement the report in the face of political considerations? The inquiry hasn’t provided disaggregated information in terms of sex and age, but as per Malagen’s count, those killed include at least eight children and dozens of women. Some of the children are as young...

December 27, 2021Investigations, The Big Story
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Gambians renew President Barrow’s mandate ‘free and fair polls’, but opposition do not accept defeat

The Independent Electoral Commission has declared incumbent Adama Barrow as winner of the presidential elections held over the weekend. But three of the five opposition contenders, including his main rival Ousainou Darboe, had rejected the results in polls that have been judged as free, fair, and transparent. “I am going to win with the biggest landslide in history,” Barrow told journalists after casting his vote Saturday morning, before going on to win 457,519 votes, representing 53 percent of votes cast. His nearest rival Ousainou Darboe scored 238,253 votes, representing 27.7 percent of the votes cast.  This is the second biggest presidential election...

December 8, 2021Election Hub, Investigations, The Big Story
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Race to State House: What presidential candidates paid in tax

Up to six candidates are vying to become president. Whoever wins on December 4 will manage taxpayers’ funds. But how much are the people seeking to make decisions over taxes in themselves paying in tax? In this investigation, Malagen digs out the tax records of the presidential candidates for the 2021 presidential elections and reveals how much each of them have paid in income tax - taxes paid on a business or deducted from salary – covering the period 2017 to date.

November 30, 2021Election Hub, Investigations, The Big Story
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A Foreign-owned Fishmeal Factory Causes a Stink in Senegal

Standing beside the empty guest house she manages, Abie Sanyang looks with worry across the beach. The source of her concern is less than 100m away on the foreshore; a fishmeal factory – its silos looming over a concrete wall separating it from cheerfully decorated palm-thatched beach bars and settlements. The fishing village Abene, in the rural Casamance region of southern Senegal, has long been a popular tourist destination. But when the plant, Société des Produits Halieutiques (SPH SARL), began operating in April 2018, the noxious fumes created in the process of turning pelagic fish into powder and oil drove visitors away. “Our guests were struggling to breath...

November 30, 2021Investigations, The Big Story
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Health Ministry’s $3.9m Deal: Who Got A Cut For Medical ‘Things Bought For Dying Individuals’

The Gambia’s ministry of health last year struck a $3.9m deal with a Turkey-based company for the purchase of medical items and equipment. Ten ambulances are included in the procurement, each reportedly bought for $89,750, approx. D5m at the time. · Malagen confirms from multiple sources that such ambulances cost at average price of $60,000 and from the deal, the ministry could have saved at least D90m of taxpayer funds, which could build at least 10 standard health posts and 40 community boreholes. · ...

August 27, 2021Investigations, The Big Story
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The Gambia’s Water Paradox: How A Country With Plentiful Water Resources Is Failing To Provide Safe Water To Its People

Bintou Kijera was exhausted. Neither she nor her three-year-old daughter had slept the previous night: the little girl was simply too sick. The two were at The Gambia’s second biggest hospital, Serekunda General Hospital, where the toddler had been diagnosed with diarrhoea. “I have changed her diapers more than four times,” the young woman said, pointing at the pale and malnourished looking girl mounted on her back. Neither Kijera nor the nurse who diagnosed the condition of her daughter could say for certain what caused her diarrhoea. “I don’t actually know whether it is caused by the food she ate or the water she...

July 24, 2021Investigations, The Big Story
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