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By Dave Manneh, Securing Futures: Land Rights Action Collaborative (SFLRAC) August 10, 2026 On 22 and 23 July, at the DPPH hall on Marina Parade in Banjul, the Ministry of Lands convened a workshop on the legal review of The Gambia's land tenure and land administration laws. The consultant leading the review set out its purpose from the front of the room. The task, the slides said, is to 'harmonise and modernise' the statutes that govern land in The Gambia. Fragmentation acro

Dr. Bakary Touray (Nyambi) – A Lifetime of Service to Veterinary Science, Conservation and Community Development. Among the many distinguished sons of Gunjur who have dedicated their lives to national development and community service, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐁𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐲, affectionately known as “𝐍𝐲𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢,”stands as one of the town’s most accomplished professionals. The retired Veterinarian Dr Bakary “Nyambi” Touray Born in 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟏 and raised in the histori

For many young Gambians, the dream of a better life has often been linked to the dangerous “backway” migration route to Europe. While some make the journey, countless others face unimaginable hardship, and many return home believing they have failed. Abubacarr Darboe (Right) returned from a “Backway” journey to start a thriving clothing business in Gunjur For 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐞 , however, returning home marked the beginning of a remarkable new chapter. The founde

People often ask me where I'm from. The answer is simple—I was born in the UK to British parents. But the place that truly made me who I am is The Gambia. When I was very young, my family moved to The Gambia. I grew up in Sukuta, the home of the Mandinka language. At first, I couldn't speak a word of Mandinka, but I was determined to fit in. Every time my friends said something I didn't understand, I'd ask what it meant. Little by little, word by word, I learnt the language u

Legal Notice 2 of 1994, made under section 5(1) of the State Lands Act, carries two operative sentences and a schedule of boundaries. The second designates Kombo North, Kombo South and Kombo Central as State lands with effect from the first day of March 1994. It recites no purchase, no conquest, no inheritance and no consent. One page in the Gazette, and three districts changed landlords on paper. Part One set down the premise and its proof: the state asserted title to the la

Few individuals leave behind a legacy that spans education, national development, humanitarian service and community empowerment. Mr. Bai Bojang was one such remarkable son of Gunjur whose lifelong commitment to serving humanity earned him respect both in The Gambia and across the international community. Born and raised in Gunjur, Bai Bojang began his career as a teacher in the early 1970s, serving in several regions of The Gambia. Through education, he helped shape young mi

Supporters of Mr. Edi M.O. Faal keep producing academic and professional credentials. We hear about degrees, bars admitted, 44 years of practice, ICSID filings, and international consulting. Those credentials are not the issue. Since this nomination surfaced, not one supporter has brought forward his judicial philosophy. Not one has cited his books. Not one has produced his articles in major legal and judiciary journals. A résumé is not jurisprudence. The Supreme Court does n

For the sake of GALA’s cause not the man — Omar Saibo Camara must resign ASAP

In The Gambia, outrage is dead. Accountability is buried. Who benefits while workers starve? President Adama Barrow can run for reelection one million times if he wants. The constitution today places no hard limit on his ambition. But the Gambian political environment teaches a different lesson. In Kerewan, a worker’s monthly wage dies by day ten. In Fajara, what many describe as the “mother of all residential estates” rises from the ground, built by a man who once lived in a

I recently came across the song Suu Kiang on TikTok, performed by Jali Sunkari. A chorus of the song goes: Ntolu yaa be suu le, Kiang Fa niŋ diyaa Suu be ñaadii Kiang Fa niŋ diyaa Ntolu be kaŋ kiliŋ ne Fa niŋ diyaa Maŋ moo bo moo to Fa niŋ diyaa It is one of the most beautiful Mandinka cultural songs I have heard in recent months. More than a melody, it is an affirmation of belonging — a celebration of Kiang not merely as a geographical place but as 𝐒𝐮𝐮 : home, heritage, m

This essay is a scholarly research I conducted. It is merit-based and reflects my personal philosophical argument on the standards required for the Office of Chief Justice in a post-autocratic Gambia. My hope is that legal scholars in this country do not feel bamboozled or intimidated by criticism. This is the moment to set the record right. Constitutional recovery demands open debate, evidence, and principle. This is my contribution to that debate. Gambia’s incoming Chief Ju

At a time when many people focus on the challenges facing our nation, Gunjur Senior Secondary School stands as a shining example of what visionary leadership, hard work, and commitment can achieve. Principal Barrow Bojang and his staff transformed Gunjur Senior Secondary School into more than just a school | Photo credit: Ousainou Gambia GSS Principal Mr Barrow Bojang with environmental and Social activist Ousainou Gambia | Photo credit: Ousainou Gambia Under the leadership

Every successful football journey begins with a dream, and for 19-year-old Fabakary Touray, that dream started on the dusty football grounds of Gunjur. Born in 2006, Fabakary discovered his love for the game at an early age. His natural ability quickly caught the attention of local coaches, who helped nurture his talent and guided him through the early stages of his football development. Those formative years in Gunjur laid the foundation for a journey that has now taken him

Vertigo in Dakar: Musa Bassadi Jawara Chronicles Ousmane Sonko’s Vacillations — A Study in Astonishment and Amusement By Musa Bassadi Jawara Economist & Author For two years, a digital militia armed with insults, not arguments, has besmirched _Bintou’s Point Kerewan_ and its author for daring to tell an uncomfortable truth: that demagoguery is not governance, that slogans are not statecraft, and that Ousmane Sonko’s inexperienced cabal at the helm in Dakar would collide with

With due respect to Mayor Talib, I disagree with the assertion that the selection of a coalition flagbearer should completely disregard the size and strength of the constituent political parties. UMC Leader Talib Bensouda Any coalition built on mutual respect, fairness, and political reality cannot ignore the support base that each party brings to the table. It would be difficult to justify asking a party with over 200,000 supporters and a nationwide structure to join a coali

The people of Gunjur, and indeed much of the Kombo region, continue to endure daily power outages with no clear end in sight. Residents in Gunjur received barely one hour of electricity yesterday and just two hours today. Such a situation is unacceptable and unsustainable in the 21st century. At a government press conference earlier today, officials from NAWEC attributed the ongoing power crisis to “maintenance works on domestic power generation facilities” and “procurement b

It is with great honor that I pay tribute to our living legend, Mr. Bubanding Bajo, a recent award recipient at the maiden Gunjur Sports Committee Awards Night. Mr. Bajo is widely admired for his beautiful smile, tireless work ethic, and unwavering commitment to football and community harmony. More than a football lover, he is a peacemaker, conflict resolver, and a strong discourager of sport hooliganism, always approaching challenges with friendliness and respect. His presen

By Musa Bassadi Jawara | Economist & Author | Bintou’s Point, Kerewan 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐲𝐞 President of the Republic of Senegal Palais de la République Dakar, Senegal 24 May 2026 Dear Mr. President, The rupture between you and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has wounded you both to near mortality. But it is Senegal and the Senegalese people who will bleed in Himalayan pro

The recent assertion that the APRC government under former President Yahya Jammeh merely “faked” development projects to attract votes is not only unfortunate, but also deeply insulting to the intelligence and lived experiences of Gambians. No well-meaning citizen can simply ignore such reckless statements. It appears the President is either desperately struggling to communicate a convincing message to the Gambian people or deliberately attempting to mislead and manipulate th

The PASTEF Rupture and a Nation in Peril By Musa Bassadi Jawara I. PREAMBLE — ON VINDICATION Before the March 2024 elections, I wrote a sober, measured piece. One line only said Amadou Ba had the institutional edge. For that single sentence, PASTEF’s digital militia descended. I was called a liar, a relic, a mercenary of the old order. They mocked, doxxed, and damned. My inboxes overflowed with venom. My analysis, built on 30 years of watching Dakar politics, was dismissed as