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Ten years after the establishment of Golden Lead Fishmeal Factory in Gunjur, concerns continue to mount over the company’s contribution to local development amid long-standing complaints surrounding its operations and environmental impact. Golden Lead had previously been associated with promises including the construction of the Gunjur beach road, development of a fish market, creation of employment opportunities and support for community-based initiatives through corporate s

By Dave Manneh Securing Futures: Land Rights Action Collaborative (SFLRAC) One year ago, I wrote "Beyond Jammeh's Shadow: Elite Capture, Land Dispossession, and State Assets Underselling in the Supposed New Gambia." That piece argued that Mustapha K. Darboe's investigation in The Republic exposed more than a scandal over stolen luxury goods. It mapped a system that moves public and communal wealth into the hands of a connected elite, the same elite that flourished under Yahya

Former Gambian Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubacarr Marie Tambadou, popularly known as “Ba Tambadou,” has demanded a public apology from investigative journalist Mustapha K. Darboe over what he described as “false and defamatory” claims published by The Republic in April 2025 regarding the disposal of assets linked to former President Yahya Jammeh. In a lengthy open letter dated 18 May 2026, Tambadou accused Darboe and The Republic of publishing allegations tha

By Musa Bassadi Jawara | Bintou’s Point, Kerewan Since the death of Honorable Mbemba Jatta’s passing on Monday, I took time today to visit with the family in Gunjur. I’ve not been in Gunjur for over a decade, and the earth under my feet remembered me before I remembered the turns. The remains of the late Hon. Mbemba Jatta will be laid to rest at the Gunjur central cemetery on Saturday, 16th May 2026 I wanted to take time and travel to Gunjur this Wednesday May 13 and visit wi

By Musa Bassadi Jawara, Bintou’s Point, Kerewan I was informed within moments of his demise in New York, United States at my vantage point in Bintou’s Point, Kerewan. News travels fast in this age, but grief travels faster. It pierced the quiet of the compound and settled on my chest like the harmattan. Late Hon. Mbemba Jatta, Former Minister of Trade, Environment & Labour Under former President Sir Dawda K. Jawara Upon learning the sad news my initial reaction translated in

Gunjur Youths for Health has successfully conducted another impactful community outreach at the Gunjur Main Market aimed at promoting public health awareness and preventive healthcare. The health screening exercise, held on 9th May 2026, attracted a total of 107 people from different age groups and genders across the community despite limited publicity ahead of the event. The outreach focused primarily on raising awareness about diabetes and hypertension, encouraging healthy

Lion Stars Football Academy has officially entered into a partnership with Kairo Brand as the academy continues preparations for the upcoming Gambia Football Federation Academy Youth League. Kairo Brand owner Abubacarr Darboe (L) with Lion Stars Academy President Ebrima Janneh (R) The partnership was marked by the unveiling of the academy’s new jerseys for the 2026 season, sponsored by the young Kairo design brand of Gunjur-born Abubacarr Darboe. The collaboration is seen as

Sometime back, after finishing the poem “Journey to the Hereafter,” I shared it with a number of friends before publishing it on Facebook. The responses I received were telling: “Are you leaving for eternity?”, “No, don’t bring this kind of poem to me. Please, let us know if you are ready to go!”, “. . . And stop writing these types of writings 😢. Write about money—that’s what I want to see 😂”. Others joked that the poem sounded like I was “giving warning shots” before depa

A Response Essay | What Did the Workshop Actually Validate? | By Dave Manneh, Securing Futures: Land Rights Action Collaborative (SFLRAC) On 12 April 2026, What If We Stop Performing the Lie? (the third essay in The Architecture of Predation trilogy) asked what happens when communities refuse the performance the state requires. Seventeen days later, the NaNA Conference Hall offered not an answer but an illustration. The architecture, dressed in the language of reform, had l

Ahmed Manjang, representing the Gunjur Conservationists and Ecotourism Association (CETAG), is participating in the Regional Forum of the Partnership for Regional Coastal and Marine Conservation (PRCM) taking place in Nouakchott, Mauritania from 27th to 30th April. Ahmed Manjang of CETAG delivers at 𝐏𝐑𝐂𝐌 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐮𝐚𝐤𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐭 At the forum, Manjang of CETAG is contributing to critical discussions on sustainable fisheries management and commu

The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has officially launched its self-service mobile application, marking a significant step in its digital transformation drive aimed at improving service delivery and customer convenience across The Gambia. The NAWEC self service app Introduced in April 2026, the mobile app allows customers to purchase Cash Power, pay water bills, and manage their utility accounts directly from their smartphones. In a major boost to its function

Hon. Omar A. Manjang has called for greater shared responsibility between men and women in antenatal and postnatal care across The Gambia. In a statement, he expressed his support for ongoing calls for change, urging men to actively participate in what are traditionally seen as women-dominated spaces, commonly referred to as “Nurse” clinics. “I am excited to join the call for change and shared responsibility in the monthly antenatal and postnatal clinics,” he said. “I call on

The recent engagement between the Association of Gambian Influencers (AGI) and the Online Media Association of The Gambia (GOMA) comes at a critical moment in the country’s media evolution. As discussions intensify around the proposed Broadcasting and Online Content Regulations 2026, one issue stands clearly at the center of national debate: how The Gambia can balance regulation, freedom, and economic opportunity in a rapidly digitising world. This conversation is not happeni

Healthcare workers received practical, hands-on refresher training on performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for both adults and children.

By Dave Manneh, Securing Futures: Land Rights Action Collaborative (SFLRAC) | 13/04/2026 In December, I described the Gambian state as predatory by design, built to break us. In February, I exposed its survival mechanism: ritual compliance. Citizens perform legitimacy daily without knowing it. Both pieces asked diagnostic questions. This piece asks the necessary third. If the architecture depends on our performance, what happens when we stop feeding it? Three Refusals That S

By Maa Touray | Why Seeking a Third Term Could Be President Adama Barrow’s Worst Political Decision President Barrow is bidding fo a third term as PORG and second under the NPP | Photo credit: State House A decision by President Adama Barrow to seek a third presidential term may prove to be the most consequential political decision of his political career. At first glance, such a claim may appear exaggerated. After all, the president currently enjoys political advantages and

The persistent shortage of electricity in Gunjur is not just a local problem, it is increasingly tied to global events. The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have contributed to rising fuel prices worldwide. With Iran controlling and shutting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route through which nearly 20% of the world’s fuel supply passes daily, the ripple effects are being felt even in small communities like ours. Drivers in Gunjur are increasing

COALITION BUILDING – A Vindication of My Position By Hon Momodou Charreh Gibba Elections are not a single event, but a continuous process that unfolds across an entire electoral cycle. One of the most critical stages in this process is voter registration, which lays the foundation for a free, fair, and credible election. Hon. Momodou Charreh Gibba My position on coalition building ahead of the 2026 presidential election remains firm and unchanged. While some may view my stanc

At a time when Gambians are grappling with relentless power cuts and unreliable water supply, the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has chosen to unveil a mobile app. Yes, a mobile app. This announcement comes on the heels of NAWEC’s own admission that it cannot meet the country’s electricity demand, forcing it to implement power rationing. In simple terms, the institution responsible for keeping the lights on has acknowledged failure, yet appears more focused on

As we journey along the uncertain and often chaotic road of life, we tend to overlook the inevitability of death. Though we know it is certain, we often live in quiet denial of this reality. Indeed, “we belong to God and to Him we shall return.” Yet, the pain of loss and its many consequences can be deeply paralysing. Even so, our faith teaches us not to allow grief to consume us forever. The passing of my dear childhood friend, Lamin Famo Darboe, is a painful reminder of jus