A 51-year-old Portuguese woman, Ramatu Baldeh, was arrested at Banjul International Airport for attempting to smuggle over 200 cocaine pellets, leading to the apprehension of Abdoulia Dembo, who was found with additional pellets during a subsequent investigation.
Michael Sang Correa, an alleged member of a Gambian death squad, is set to stand trial in Denver on September 16, 2024, marking the first time a non-US citizen will be tried in a US federal court for torture committed abroad under the Extraterritorial Torture Act.
An Ecowas delegation conducted a five-day field validation in Banjul to assess and ensure the transparent and effective delivery of humanitarian aid for The Gambia’s food crisis and flood disaster, with beneficiaries expressing gratitude for the support while highlighting ongoing needs.
The Gambian government plans to reintroduce a revised draft constitution, previously rejected in 2021, which emphasizes democratic principles, human rights, and introduces presidential term limits, with the document to be gazetted and made publicly accessible.
Following revelations of illegal state land allocations to President Barrow and former Vice President Ousainou Darboe’s family, there are calls for all beneficiaries, including government officials and their families since 2017, to return the lands to ensure fairness, uphold ethical standards, and prevent misuse of public resources.
A recent Afrobarometer survey reveals that while the majority of Africans prefer democracy and reject non-democratic alternatives like military rule, there is a significant portion open to military intervention if elected leaders misuse their power, highlighting both a strong commitment to democratic principles and notable concerns about governance and accountability.
Human rights activists Madi Jobarteh, Baboucarr Nyang, and Omar Camara have filed a petition with the National Assembly seeking an inquiry into the allocation of state lands between 2017 and 2023, emphasizing the need for transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law in public resource management.
The Government’s 2024 Draft Constitution restricts media ownership to Gambian citizens and limits peaceful assembly rights for national security reasons, while removing the Supreme Court’s authority to validate emergency declarations, citing concerns over institutional friction and the need for swift crisis responses.
A group of concerned Gambians has initiated a petition, with 320 out of 500 signatures gathered, to oppose Dr. Momodou Tangara’s nomination for Commonwealth Secretary-General, citing his past defense of human rights abuses during The Gambia’s dictatorship and deeming him unsuitable for the role.
The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force (SETAF-AF) engaged in a week-long military exchange with the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) to enhance military cooperation, focusing on the Inspector General system, rule of law, and potential long-term collaborations.
