By: Alieu Jallow

Nine years to the day since Gambian democracy activist Solo Sandeng led a peaceful protest demanding electoral reform – only to pay the ultimate price – the EF Small Centre for Reconciliation and Justice (EFSCRJ) has issued a stirring tribute to his courage, alongside a renewed call for urgent democratic reforms.

On April 14, 2016, armed with nothing but a megaphone and a banner, Sandeng and his companions stood beneath the scorching West African sun at Westfield Junction, demanding change. The Yahya Jammeh regime responded with swift brutality: Sandeng was arrested, tortured, and killed in custody. His fellow protesters endured severe violence at the hands of the now-defunct National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

In a commemorative statement released today, EFSCRJ lauded Sandeng’s bravery and that of his fellow demonstrators, describing the protest as a watershed moment in The Gambia’s pro-democracy movement – one that helped ignite the Kalama Revolution and paved the way for the 2016 Grand Coalition that eventually ousted Jammeh.

The statement read that the Centre pays tribute to Solo Sandeng and all Gambians who sacrificed their lives, limbs, resources, and freedom for the liberation of the country – a cause it remains committed to defending and advancing.

While acknowledging the Barrow administration’s initial steps – including the prosecution and conviction of NIA operatives and the 2023 national memorial in Sandeng’s honor – the Centre expressed growing concern over what it described as The Gambia’s “fledgling state of democracy.”

Nearly a decade later, EFSCRJ lamented the lack of substantial electoral reforms, accusing the very political parties that once championed Sandeng’s cause of betraying their promises.

The Centre decried the continued use of the 1996 Elections Decree-crafted under military rule – and condemned the ongoing disenfranchisement of diaspora Gambians. It also criticized the controversial practice of attestation, which has long raised questions about the integrity of the voter registration process.

The statement said the Centre is deeply disturbed that the political parties and politicians who became the direct beneficiaries of the April 14 protest have failed to live up to its ideals.

Referencing the 2015 GOFER electoral reform proposal – submitted to national and international stakeholders, including the UN, AU, and ECOWAS – EFSCRJ called for urgent legislative action to pass the long-delayed Elections Bill, including Clause 14, which would enable diaspora voting.

The Centre also issued a bold demand for voting rights to be extended to prisoners, insisting that neither incarceration nor living abroad should strip a Gambian citizen of their sovereign right to vote.

EFSCRJ anchored its call in a broader historical context, invoking the legacy of EF Small, the iconic nationalist who in the 1920s championed the principle of “No taxation without representation.” Linking Sandeng’s sacrifice to this enduring fight for democratic rights, the Centre reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing reforms that honor the struggles and sacrifices of Gambian heroes.

The statement concluded that elections are the lifeblood of self-governance, ensuring that power flows from the people, not from force or privilege. This, it said, is the legacy Solo Sandeng represents and one the EF Small Centre vows to uphold.

As The Gambia approaches another electoral season, EFSCRJ has declared 2025 the Year of Transparency and Accountability, urging both leaders and citizens to rise to the moment and help make the vision of a fully inclusive, participatory democracy a lived reality.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Hon. Modou Lamin B. Bah, the National Assembly Member for Banjul North Constituency, has called for urgent and decisive action to address the growing trend of suicide in The Gambia. A staunch advocate for social justice, Bah described the surge in suicides as a national tragedy requiring immediate attention from all sectors of society. He proposed the establishment of a national suicide prevention strategy, one that is rooted in compassion, informed by data, and driven by concrete actions.

“We need to amend laws that criminalize suicide in The Gambia to allow individuals to seek help without the fear of punishment or imprisonment,” Bah said. His remarks come in the wake of three recently reported cases of suicide this week. “We can no longer remain silent. In just one week, The Gambia has witnessed three suspected suicides. These are not mere statistics or headlines; they represent human lives lost, families torn apart, and communities left in grief and confusion,” he emphasized.

The opposition lawmaker from Banjul North further explained, “Over the years, I’ve had the privilege and the painful experience of listening to countless stories from individuals grappling with invisible wounds.” Hon. Bah argued that many in the country suffer in silence, trapped between cultural and legal stigmas, spiritual shame, and a lack of professional support. “In a society where ‘being strong’ often means suppressing pain, far too many are buckling under the weight of that silence. These three tragic incidents are not isolated,” he said.

Bah pointed out that the alarming rise in suicides is indicative of how severely underfunded and neglected mental health services are in The Gambia. “For every suicide reported, many others go unspoken. And for each life lost, countless more are suffering quietly—hoping that someone will notice, will care, and will offer help,” he concluded.

By Mama A. Touray

As Half Die residents head to the polls, two candidates—Salieu Jallow of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the National People’s Party (NPP) candidate – have filed their nomination credentials with the Independent Electoral Commission, urging voters to support them.

The first candidate to submit his credentials was the NPP candidate, who called on the people of Half Die Ward to vote for him, stating that he is the most competent candidate for the position.

“They should vote for me because I am the right candidate for them. I live here in Half Die, and I understand their problems. They know I can solve them,” he said. “I just want to encourage everyone to come out in large numbers on Election Day to vote for me so I can work with them.”

He further added that the enthusiasm and support he received during his nomination show that the residents of Half Die Ward want him as their candidate, which gives him strength every day.

On the other hand, Salieu Jallow, the PPP candidate, emphasized his competence and reasons why residents should vote for him.

“If you ask the people about this journey I am embarking on, they will tell you it’s driven by my passion for serving my people. As for someone claiming they are more competent than me, that’s their opinion; I know my competence, and it speaks for itself,” he stated.

He stressed that his work for the people of Half Die, Banjul South, and Banjul as a whole is not new.

“I’ve been working for them, and that’s something I’ve always done. I won’t respond to claims about someone being more competent than me. I have a proven track record, not just in Half Die, but throughout Banjul and The Gambia. I’ve always worked for the well-being and progress of my people. The residents of Half Die know what I can offer, and I trust they understand what’s best for them,” he said.

When asked why he didn’t bring a large crowd like the NPP candidate did, Jallow explained, “The size of the crowd doesn’t affect me. It’s my decision, and I want to thank my party for respecting that. We came here with a purpose and without fanfare out of respect for our Christian community, who are observing Lent. If it were Ramadan, we wouldn’t have come with a crowd either, as we wanted to show respect for the Christian community.”

He also expressed confidence that had it not been for the Lent period, they could have attracted a larger crowd, as the party has supporters from all walks of life.

“I believe in myself and in my team’s ability to fulfill our responsibilities. By Allah’s will, we will uplift our people and accomplish what is entrusted to us,” he concluded.

By Alieu Jallow

It has been 24 years since the blood of Gambian students stained the streets in a protest that began as a call for justice—and ended in a massacre.

On April 10 and 11, 2000, students across The Gambia marched in unity under the banner of the Gambia Student Union (GAMSU), demanding accountability for two grave injustices: the alleged torture and killing of 17-year-old Ebrima Barry by fire officers in Brikama, and the reported rape of a schoolgirl by a paramilitary officer. What began as a peaceful demonstration turned into a national tragedy when state security forces opened fire on unarmed students, killing at least 14 and injuring dozens more.

Among the survivors is Alieu Sanyang, now the Alkalo of Faraba Sutu, who was then an 11th-grade student at Muslim Senior Secondary School.

“On that fateful morning, I boarded a bus to Banjul with nothing but my biology assignment in hand. By the time I returned to Farato—bruised, limping, and emotionally shattered—the country I knew had changed forever,” he recalls.

Sanyang said he was unaware of the protest until their school bus reached Westfield, where chanting students forced them to disembark. “Tay la tay la,” they cried. “Today is the day.” As the protest swelled, the students marched from Westfield to Churchill’s Town and onward to Bundung Police Station, where chaos broke out. Buildings were set ablaze, detainees were released, and in the midst of the confusion, Sanyang was struck on the leg by a stone—ironically, thrown by a fellow protester.

“My attempt to stop others from destroying a vehicle ended with me injured,” he said.

But according to him, the worst came at Churchill’s Town junction, when soldiers from Yundum Barracks launched a brutal crackdown. Armed and unrelenting, they chased students through the streets.

“I ran for my life, eventually finding shelter at my late brother Yusupha Kujabi’s house in Tallinding,” Sanyang recounts. “When the BBC World Service confirmed five deaths at midday—including journalist Omar Barrow—the weight of what had happened began to settle on my shoulders.”

Back home in Farato, his grandfather, the late Pa Sillah, stood helplessly at Mindaw Junction, stopping every passerby and asking if they had seen his grandson. With no mobile phones or social media at the time, fear and uncertainty spread like wildfire.

“When I finally made it home, his first words weren’t of anger, but of relief: ‘Alhamdulillah, is that Alieu?’” he remembers.

Sanyang says the wounds of that day never truly healed. He cited victims like Mariama Cham, who lost her son, and others who continue to carry both visible and hidden scars as they wait for justice. Despite acknowledgments from successive governments, no one has been held fully accountable for the killings.

In 2019, the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) heard testimonies from survivors, witnesses, and former officers involved in the shootings. The Commission concluded that the students posed no credible threat and were met with excessive and unjustified force. It recommended the prosecution of those responsible, including top officials in the then-Jammeh regime.

Yet, 24 years later, those recommendations remain largely unimplemented. Victims’ families continue to wait—for meaningful compensation, for the prosecution of perpetrators, and for formal state recognition of their loss.

As The Gambia reflects on the legacy of April 10 and 11, the cries of those students still echo—a haunting reminder that the price of justice deferred is paid in blood.

“The lessons are clear,” Sanyang says. “A nation that silences its youth denies its future. A country without justice cannot build peace. And a democracy without memory is doomed to repeat its past.”

“May the souls of the fallen rest in eternal peace. And may The Gambia never again witness such a day,” he prays.

By Mama A. Touray

President Adama Barrow has expressed plans to officially open several rural road projects by June 2025. This announcement followed his daylong inspection of ongoing construction works across rural areas, aimed at obtaining firsthand information on progress, challenges, and the way forward.

“We target to officially open in June. The Hakalang Road is a very well-known route, stretching about 86 kilometers. We’re around 80% complete and are aiming to finish it by early or late May,” Barrow said.

He noted that the Kiang West project has been particularly challenging but emphasized that it was undertaken to improve the movement of people, especially those residing in the area. Reflecting on his 2016 presidential campaign, he stated, “This was a difficult area to access. During the campaign, I visited here and promised that if elected, we would construct these roads. This is part of fulfilling that commitment.”

Despite the roads not being fully completed, the president expressed satisfaction with the work done so far. “I’m very happy with the progress. We’re almost there, and I believe by June we will be able to officially open the roads. The quality is commendable — our consultants are on the ground, providing regular reports, and the feedback has been positive. The project is also on budget,” he said.

Highlighting his administration’s focus on infrastructure, Barrow reiterated that development is closely tied to road access. “There is no developed country without roads. Infrastructure is essential for development, and we will continue to invest in road construction across the country,” he said. He added that the government’s infrastructure efforts go beyond roads, noting that schools, health facilities, electricity projects, and agricultural initiatives are also being pursued concurrently.

Barrow concluded by acknowledging the constraints faced due to limited resources but credited his government’s innovation, focus, and commitment. “As Mandela once said, if you are committed, you can achieve anything in life. We believe in that and are doing everything possible to deliver on the social projects promised to the Gambian people,” he said.