News as at
November 5, 2025, 7:07 am
Calls Mount for Grand Coalition Ahead of 2026 Polls
- [The Point] As the Gambia gears up for the 2026 presidential polls, there is growing call among opposition party leaders for a formidable grand coalition against the incumbent president, Adama Barrow.
ActionAid Calls for 30% Fertiliser Budget Shift to Homegrown Solutions
- [The Point] ActionAid International joined by government officials, farmers, and civil society have called on government to cut its dependency on imported chemical fertiliser by investing 30% of the budget in homegrown organic solutions that promise food security, climate resilience, and healthier lives.
Finance Minister Warns of Rising Debt, Bets On Reforms in 2026 Budget
- [The Point] The Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Seedy Keita, on Friday tabled the Draft 2026 Budget before the National Assembly, promising stronger revenue growth, tighter spending control, and record investments in agriculture, education, and health despite challenge in debt rise.
Gambian Women Still Face Barriers to Equality in Education, Employment, and Participation in Politics
- [Afrobarometer] Most citizens say police and courts should do more to protect women and girls against discrimination and harassment.
Gambia's Transitional Justice Momentum Must Not Falter
- [ISS] As delays fuel public concerns, the government and ECOWAS must turn political will into action with the help of international partners.
Jammeh Free to Return, but Not Free From Prosecution - Govt
- [The Point] The government of The Gambia has issued a statement clarifying its official position on the announced return of former President Yahya Jammeh, emphasising that while every Gambian has the constitutional right to return home, this does not exempt anyone from accountability for serious crimes documented by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). It added that former President Jammeh's return is constitutional and is respected under international law. However, this right does not shield
Sis DG Says Gambia's Security Situation Remains Calm, Urges Measured Approach
- [The Point] The Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Honourable Ousman Sowe, has described the country's overall security situation as "stable and peaceful," while acknowledging the dynamic nature of national security. The country's spy chief has called for a measured approach and restraint in our dealings, with a view to ensuring that the nation continues to enjoy the peace and stability for which it is known, emphasising that sustained tranquility is essential for driving socio-economic
Dr. Samateh Vows Major Overhaul At Tanka Tanka
- [The Point] Health Minister Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh has acknowledged that mental health remains one of The Gambia's most pressing yet under-addressed challenges revealing that about 8% of Gambians live with some form of mental disorder and that the country currently relies on just one psychiatric hospital to serve the entire population. He thus promised major overhaul in the hospital.
Ex-State House Driver Acquitted, Discharged in Diplomatic Passport Scandal
- [The Point] Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court in Banjul has acquitted and discharged Mansa Sumareh, a former State House driver, along with the second accused, Ebrima J.S. Sanneh. The pair had been facing eight counts, including forgery, conspiracy, uttering false documents, and conspiracy to commit a felony, among other charges. They have now been acquitted and discharged on all eight counts.
State Opposes Ex-Soldier's Bail Application, Says Condition Treatable in Gambia
- [The Point] The State, represented by State Counsel Jobarteh, yesterday urged the High Court to reject the bail application filed by Abdoulie Sanyang, a former soldier of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), who is facing two charges--arson and interference with judicial proceedings, before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh.
National TB Burden Remains Significant - Data
- [The Point] Data collected by health officials has revealed that while the country has made some progress in TB care and prevention, the national TB burden remains significant, especially given the country's population size and the vulnerable people it served.
GRA Deems Cross-Border Vat As Key to Modern Tax Administration
- [The Point] Deputy Commissioner General and Head of Domestic Taxes at the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Ensa Jallow, has underscored the critical importance of Value Added Tax (VAT) in cross-border transactions, describing it as an increasingly vital component of modern tax administration.
Gambia's Buwaro Warns Starlets Its Not Over in Wafcon Chase
- [Capital FM] Nairobi -- Gambia forward Ola Buwaro has warned Kenya's Harambee Starlets that the duel is far from over, as the two prepare to clash in the return fixture of their 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier to be played in Senegal on Tuesday.
Lack of Transparency Is the Greatest Danger to National Sovereignty
- [Foroyaa] Sovereign national assets must be protected by all governments, irrespective of party affiliation, that aim to maintain a sovereign republic. Without sovereign national assets there can be no sovereign republic. Foroyaa has repeatedly contacted the Gambia Ports Authority to get the full details of all its agreements so that they could be subjected to careful scrutiny in order to safeguard the national interest but has not succeeded in getting the cooperation of the authorities.
African States Urged to Ratify Malabo Convention On Digital Rights
- [Foroyaa] African governments must urgently ratify the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, the Malabo Convention, to safeguard citizens' digital rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights has warned.
Auditor General Raises Concern Over Unrecovered Government Employee Loans
- [Foroyaa] The Auditor General (AG) of the National Audit Office (NAO) has raised concerns regarding the government's failure to recover over 2.5 million dalasi in loans issued to civil servants. This issue was highlighted in the AG's 2023 Management Letter, part of the annual audit of government accounts.
Contractor Should Provide Compensation to Kerr Gallow Electrocution Victims, Says Nawec Md
- [Foroyaa] The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has completed its internal investigation into the fatal electrocution incident that claimed the lives of seven workers in Kerr Gallow village, Lower Niumi District, North Bank Region, the company's Managing Director, Mr. Gallo Saidy, confirmed to Foroyaa on Tuesday.
Nawec MD Blames Old Networks, Overloads for Power Faults
- [Foroyaa] The Managing Director of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), Mr. Gallo Saidy, has blamed the recent low voltages and transformer bursts within the Greater Banjul Area and the West Coast Region on ageing networks and overloaded transformers.
High Court Sentences Uncle to Life Imprisonment for Raping His Niece
- [Foroyaa] In a landmark judgment delivered at the Banjul High Court, Justice S. Jobarteh has sentenced Ebrima Joof to life imprisonment for the rape of his stepdaughter, a crime described by the court as "abhorrent" and a "beastly perversion of fatherhood."
Trafficking Victim Accuses Nigerian Woman of Introducing Her to Sex Work
- [Foroyaa] A Nigerian woman has testified before Justice S. Jobarteh, recounting how she was introduced to commercial sex work by the accused, Chinenye Amadi, after being brought to The Gambia under alleged false pretenses.
ASF France Leads Continental Push for Digital Rights At Achpr Forum in Banjul
- [The Point] As Africa stands at the crossroads of digital transformation, Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France) is championing a new rights-based approach to technology governance.
Health Ministry Set for Nationwide Mr Vaccination Campaign
- [The Point] The Ministry of Health in collaboration with partners will embark on a nationwide Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign starting 23rd to 28th October 2028.
Madiambal Diagne Arrested in France Over Suspicious Financial Transitions
- [The Point] Madiambal DIAGNE was arrested yesterday October 21, in France. The information given exclusively by Samba SECK on Facebook was confirmed by his lawyer, Mr. Bourdon, who took the train to inquire about his client's situation.
UK Woman Says Police Arrested Wrong Person in Piu Shooting Case
- [The Point] In a marathon testimony before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh at the High Court in Banjul yesterday, Kathleen McGee, a British national, stunned the courtroom as she declared that she had told the Gambian police they had arrested the wrong person in connection with the Sukuta Traffic Light shooting.
Gaye Njorro, U.S. Partners Redefine Afro Hair Education
- [The Point] Gaye Njorro Skills Academy in collaboration with Afro Hair Science, recently unveiled a Textures Intercultural Exchange 2025, a first-of-its-kind programme dedicated to exploring the science, art and heritage of afro-textured hair.
'The Sea Is a Gigantic Cemetery' - NGOs, Refugees Protest Italy-Libya Migration Deal
- [Foroyaa] "The sea is a gigantic cemetery. Italy is Libya's accomplice." This chilling accusation echoed through Rome's Piazza Vidoni on Saturday, as NGOs, refugees, and human rights groups rallied to demand an end to the Italy-Libya memorandum.
Auditor General Questions GMD 4.4 Million in Salary Increments
- [Foroyaa] The Auditor General (AG) of the National Audit Office (NAO) has raised concerns over the payment of GMD 4,415,694.48 in salary increments, citing missing promotion letters as a key issue.
Rural Gambians With Hemophilia Struggle Amid Shortage of Trained Medical Staff
- [The Point] Growing concerns over the lack of adequate healthcare services and the shortage of trained medical professionals in rural Gambia took center stage at the Safe Motherhood and Hemophilia Foundation's Family Day held at the Badala Park Hotel.
Health Officials Defend D37m Vehicle Procurement in Swedd+ Project
- [The Point] The Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) of the National Assembly on Monday clashed with top officials from the Ministry of Health and the Sahel Women's Empowerment and Demographic Dividend Plus (SWEDD+) Project over alleged inflated vehicle procurement deals worth more than D37 million.
MD Jobarteh Rubbishes Claims of Mortgaging Banjul Port
- [The Point] The managing director of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), Ousman Jobarteh, has rubbished online claims that the Banjul Port has been mortgaged to a Turkish company in exchange for a loan.
