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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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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