Gunjur INFO

By Fatou Camara

Fact-checking the fact-checker: First, I never stated that the Barrow Government is not corrupt. I have publicly expressed the concern that if a commission is formed after Barrow, it may be the worse due to the existing corruption allegations against some of his government officials.

In my interview, I mentioned that I do not believe President Barrow as an individual is corrupt, and I maintain that view based on my observations and knowledge. Gala's decision to withdraw a nomination they initiated themselves is acceptable to us, it was merely a nomination, and I'm not certain if the awards committee has announced the shortlist yet. If they had been shortlisted and won, we would not have interfered, as that is not how we operate at the Fatu brand.

Gala consistently receives significant media coverage at The Fatu Network, regardless of my views on their actions, because that reflects our professionalism. At Fatu Network, we do not hold individuals accountable for their personal opinions.

You cannot claim to be activists while opposing differing viewpoints. I support activism when it is reasonable, and I do not seek to appease individuals, which is something those familiar with me understand. I always express my thoughts candidly, and I intend to keep doing so. It is important for everyone to have the freedom to express their opinions without restriction, the same thing GALA is enjoying.

Press Statement

For Immediate Release

Combatants and believers of the struggle,

The National Coordinator of Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), Hakeem Touray who was nominated for this year’s Heroes Award “Person of the Year,” officially withdraws from the nomination and hereby announces a total boycott of the event.

This decision comes following the unfortunate remarks made by Fatu Camara, particularly her claim that President Adama Barrow is not corrupt. Such statements directly contradict the very principles and realities GALA has been fighting against since its inception.

As a movement built on sacrifice, resistance, and the uncompromising struggle against corruption, bad governance, looting of public resources, and impunity, we cannot in good conscience participate in a platform that attempts to sanitise or dismiss the corruption and suffering affecting the Gambian people.

This boycott is not about personalities or individuals. It is about principle. GALA will never compromise its position or dilute its message for awards, recognition, or public applause.

We remain firmly committed to the people and to the struggle for accountability, transparency, and justice in The Gambia.

Our dignity, principles, and solidarity as a movement are worth far more than any award can offer.

Long Shall the Struggle Live!
Happy GALA Month!
All Power to the People!

Signed
Omar Sanyang
General Secretary, GALA

Gunjur Utd, Suwokono scuffle for survival in 2nd Division


Gunjur United and Suwokono are battling for survival in the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) Division Two League.
The Coastal Boys will host Suwokono in their week-26 fixture tomorrow, Friday, 15th May 2026 at the Gunjur Nyamina Mini Stadium at 4: 30pm.
The duo are currently struggling in the country's Second Tier following their dismal performances in their league matches.
Gunjur United snatched 23 points in twenty-five league matches.
The Coastal Boys will scuffle to beat Suwokono to keep their hopes of staying in the Second Division League for another season.
Suwokono secured 27 points after twenty-five league outings.
The Lower River Region Boys will contend to stun Gunjur United to maintain their dreams of survival in the country's Second Tier for another season.

Modou S. Joof, Secretary General, Gambia Press Union (GPU), speaks at the ACHPR 87th Ordinary Session in Banjul on 13 May, 2026.

Honourable Chairperson, Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) is honoured to once again be granted the opportunity to fulfil our observer status mandate and to contribute to the discussion on the Human Rights Situation in Africa.

Honourable Chairperson,

Press Freedom Situation in The Gambia

We recognised significant improvements made in The Gambia’s ranking in the RSF’s Global Press Freedom Index this year at 46th position out of 180 countries and 8th position in Africa. The only time that The Gambia has seen a global score this high was in 2023 when we were ranked 46 globally and 5th in Africa in 2023.

However, there remains significant challenges of press freedom and freedom of expression, including:

The absence of political will to protect journalists by adopting laws that guarantees the safety of journalists through the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity;
The incomplete media law reforms and the creation of new restrictive laws that significantly affects media independence, pluralism and promote self-censorship;
High taxes and levies on media houses and imported media equipment or materials necessary for the operations of media houses; and a lack of subsidy for the private media
Harassment and intimidation of journalists, legal action and threats of legal action against journalists; and a lack of implementation the Access to Information Act, 2021.
Honourable Chairperson,

Attacks on Press Freedom

In May 2025, journalists Sheriff Conteh of In-depth Media and Alieu Ceesay of The Alkamba Times, were arrested as they cover a peaceful protest in Banjul against the government’s lack of transparency in the sale of former president Yahya Jammeh’s assets. During the same peaceful protest, photojournalist Matarr Jassey of The Fatu Network was physically assaulted by the police.

Since November 2024, a defamation suit against journalist Kebba Ansu Manneh of The Alkamba Times brought against him by the Minister of Environment, Rohey John Manjang, over allegations of corruption related to illegal logging, is being heard by the High Court. The Minister is claiming damages of more than ($725, 000 USD) which could financially-cripple the outlet. Of particular concern is that she was given an opportunity to comment on the allegations before the story was published, and she threatened to sue the outlet.

On 11 March, 2026, the Editor of Jollof News Online, Momodou Justice Darboe, was assaulted by police officers within the premises of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court for taking a photo of two accused persons outside the courtroom. He suffered bruises on both of his hands after police officers forcibly attempted to seize his mobile phone.

Darboe was subsequently arrested and detained at the Police Headquarters for six hours, charged with “common assault” and granted self-bail. The charge has since been changed to “common nuisance” and he was scheduled to appear in Court on April 20, 2026, but the case was adjourned indefinitely. Darboe has denied the charges.

On 7th April 2026, Omar P. Jallow, a reporter of the State Broadcaster, GRTS, was summoned and interrogated by an intelligence officer attached to the Office of the Vice President. He was accused of being a spy, withdrawn from covering the Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow, and excluded from a trip with the Vice President to New York after being granted a visa. The reasons for these measures taken against the journalist was because he served as Chairperson of his native village’s fundraising committee which invited an opposition leader to grace the fundraising event held on April 4, 2026.

On 26 February 2026, the Central Bank of The Gambia attempted to prevent journalist Yusef Taylor, Editor of the online platform Askanwi Media, from covering the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press briefing. No reasons were advanced, but it is believed that the Governor of the Bank was not happy with the journalist’s line of questioning during the preceding MPC press briefing in December 2025.

In April 2026, Voice Out Digital (VOD), an online media news outlet, was excluded from an event organized by the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) after reporting on illegal electricity connections. The case of Mr. Taylor and that of VOD highlight a certain degree of intolerance to critical media reporting among public institutions.

Honourable Chairperson

Media Law Reforms

On media law reform, “criminal defamation” and “false publication online” are no longer applicable after been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of The Gambia in 2018[1].

The Criminal Offences Act, 2025 has repealed sedition laws that punish statements likely to promote hatred among “different classes” and sedition relating to the country’s president and judicial processes and decisions.

An Access to Information Law was adopted in 2021 – recognising for the first time access to information as a human right. However, the law is yet to be implemented.

In 2022, The Gambia Government accepted the recommendations of the Truth Commission to review or repeal restrictive media laws and replace them with laws that promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression. While the government has repealed some of these laws, it is replacing them with new draconian laws.

The Criminal Offences Act, 2025, replicated the “False Publication and Broadcasting” law from the Criminal Code which has been used against journalists – with a punishment for anyone found guilty of up to one-year imprisonment or a fine of more than $3000 USD or both.

The “False Publication and Broadcasting” law, among other Gambian media laws, is recommended for a review or repeal by the ECOWAS Court of Justice in 2018[2], also by The Gambia’s Truth Commission in 2021, and by a Gambia-government Media Law Review Committee in 2018.

The Cybercrime Bill, 2023 which is still in parliament has provisions to punish various forms of speech and criticism of public officials online. Application will affect journalists, human rights activists, the opposition, and social media users’ legitimate criticism of the government. The Bill creates the offence of “false news online” & significant police and surveillance powers that are not subject to judicial or similar independent oversight.

The Communications Bill, 2025 has provisions in several sections (including from Sections 114 to 263) that promote unchecked surveillance powers that could compromise journalistic source protection, editorial confidentiality, and the security of unpublished materials; hefty fines and imprisonment for journalists and media owners; and would create a licencing regime for broadcast media that could exclude critical civil society or opposition voices from the broadcasting landscape.

Other problematic media laws like the Newspaper Amendment Act, 2004 raised the bond for newspaper registration from D100, 000 ($1,356) to D500, 000 ($6,776) – making the means to establish a newspaper a difficult burden that shrinks the newspaper publishing industry.

The Information Communication Act, 2009, gives sweeping powers to national security agencies and investigating authorities to monitor, intercept and store communications in unspecified circumstances. It further provides that the minister may require information and communication service providers to “implement the capability to allow authorised interception of communications.” The law has no judicial oversight safeguards and is recommended for review by the ECOWAS Court and the Government’s Media Law Review Committee, as well as the Truth Commission.

As of April 2026, a Broadcasting and Online Content Regulations, 2026 proposed by the State-controlled broadcast media regulator, PURA, sought to provides a general State system of registration or licensing of journalists which is incompatible with Constitutional provisions on freedom of expression and media independence and international human rights law.

The Regulations expand the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s mandate beyond technical spectrum management and broadcast licensing to include the registration of online news outlets and social media users with significant public reach (SPURs).

WATCH video from 1h 48mins.

Honourable Chairperson,

Access to Information

The Gambia’s Access to Information Act, 2021 was adopted after broad consultations with the government and among civil society actors led by the Gambia Press Union through a Coalition of CSOs chaired by the umbrella body of NGOs in The Gambia, TANGO.

The law everyone the legal right of access to information that the government and private entities keep for or on behalf of the public and its implementation is crucial to the media’s role in promoting accountability, people’s right to information, freedom of expression and political participation.

An Information Commission is established and a “Framework” and “Regulations” for the implementation of the law were developed in 2025.

However, since its adoption in 2021, the ATI law has not been implemented. Some of the basic necessities to operationalize the law have not been implemented.

Public bodies have yet to designate information officers who would receive and process information requests
Public bodies have no implementation plans
The Framework and Regulations for the ATI law have not been implemented
There is no categorization of information for better accessibility
Journalists, civil society, academia and the public are denied access to information upon requests without accountability on the part of public bodies


Recommendations

Honourable Chairperson,

Based on the issues highlighted above, we would like to call on the Commission to urge The Gambia Government to:

Put an end to impunity for violent attacks on journalists by investigating and prosecuting physical assault on journalists
Put an end to the harassment and intimidation of journalists and journalists’ sources through arrests and legal proceedings
Fully implement the recommendations of the Truth Commission on media law reforms, and guarantees of media independence, pluralism and the safety of journalists
We call on the Commission to urge The Gambia Government to:

Ensure Gambian Parliament consider Position Papers by the Gambia Press Union recommending the removal or review of restrictive provisions in the Cybercrime Bill, 2023; and the Communication Bill, 2025
Review or repeal the False Publication and Broadcasting law from the Criminal Offences Act, 2025; and
Ensure the full implementation of the Access to Information Act, 2021
Thank You.

Delivered by GPU Secretary General, Mr. Modou S. Joof on 13 May, 2026

Tel: +220 348 0043
Email: [email protected]

SESDO unveils approved teams prior to nawettan qualifiers

Serrekunda East Sports Development Organization (SESDO) on Tuesday 12th May 2026 unveiled approved teams ahead of the 2026 Serrekunda East 'nawettan' qualifiers.
The teams were approved after registration committee reviewed their status before the start of the qualifiers.
According to SESDO, all teams will be officially communicated by the secretary general next stage of the qualifier processes.
Seventy-six (76) teams are set to participate in the 2026 SESDO qualifiers.
Only four (4) teams will advance to the play play-offs.

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’un.
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Sulayman Daffeh (Junkung). The late Sulayman was known as a very peaceful person, a devoted Muslim, and someone dedicated to voluntary community service. His humility, kindness, and commitment to serving others will always be remembered by those who knew him.
May Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him Jannatul Firdaus, and bless all departed souls with eternal peace. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and the entire community during this difficult time.

*Preparations for Hon. Mbemba Jatta’s Funeral Finalized as Balla Visits Gunjur, Wednesday May 13*

_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.

I wanted to take time and travel to Gunjur this Wednesday May 13 and visit with the family before the arrival of the co**se on Saturday for burial. There are duties that cannot be delegated. There are condolences that must be carried in person, with your own breath and your own shadow in the doorway.

It was a somber and sanctimonious occasion — hushed, reverent, prayer-laden, heavy with memory and softened by faith. The kind of silence that listens. The kind of grief that sits upright. You could feel the weight of a great tree fallen, and the shade it leaves behind.

I addressed the Gunjur community, Jatta K***a and families of Kombo South with passion and in celebratory recollection of late Mbemba Jatta’s life as narrated in the tribute on Monday. I did not mourn a politician. I remembered a brother-in-law, a statistician, a land-giver, a quiet architect of roads and of dignity.

The crowd was glued to my account as I stated with intense and grandiloquent intensity of the immensity of the loss of this illustrious son of the Kombos, Gambia and West Africa sub region. Elders nodded. Young men lowered their gaze. Mothers pulled their wraps tighter, as if to hold in the ache. Because when you name a man truly, the whole village remembers at once.

Arrangements are set for Saturday the arrival of a powerful family delegation escorting the co**se from the United States. As the co**se arrives in the wee hours of Saturday morning May 16, Kombo South, Gambia will gather at 10 am at the Central Mosque in Gunjur for Janazah prayer and community-led, befitting funeral rites for a man of extraordinary and sensational stature. From New York to Yundum, from the cold of a foreign morgue to the warmth of Kombo sand — this is the last journey of a son who never forgot where his navel was buried.

Insha Allah it will be a funeral of unique and fitting farewell for a well deserved public, family, community servant. Let the Kombo Coastal Roads he conceived carry him home. Let every grain of laterite bear witness. Let the drums be measured and the prayers be loud, for a man who served without noise deserves to be sent off with thunder.

I am glad I took time to visit Gunjur ahead of the funeral and touch base with the family and community. To look Sister Mariama in the eye. To press the shoulders of his children. To tell Jatta K***a: your son did not labor in vain. The ledgers of Allah do not forget.

I was overwhelmed with admiration of people of Kombo, the young, elderly women and men surrounding hugging and quietly approaching me in solidarity and absolute admiration as if I was a visiting statesman or popular pop singer or famous star. I was so touched that I decided to have an extended stay and organize an impromptu dinner for the entire community under my charge.

What began as condolence became communion. We broke no kola nut in ceremony, but we broke bread in memory. The same hands that built Mbemba’s roads now stirred pots for his remembrance. That is Kombo. That is family. That is the quiet republic he helped build — one meal, one land deed, one dignity at a time.

So here is my closing charge to Gambia, to Kombo, to all who claim to build nations: Measure a man not by the height of his microphone, but by the length of the roads he left behind. Not by the volume of his speeches, but by the number of landless families he gave a plot to call home. Mbemba Jatta was generous to his last change, and to his last breath.

Let us not bury him only with soil. Let us bury him with policy. Let us bury him with scholarships in statistics for Gunjur’s children. Let us bury him with a Land Bank named after the LANSAREWARS, so no poor family sleeps on borrowed ground. That is how you immortalize a quiet giant. That is how you answer grief with nationhood.

*Allah yarham Mbemba Jatta. To Allah we come and to Him we return.*

*Musa Bassadi Jawara*
_Economist & Author_
_Bintou’s Point, Kerewan_

UPDATE ON THE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE LATE HON. MBEMBA JATTA
Assalamu Alaikum / Greetings Family and Friends,

This is to inform the general public that the burial of our beloved Alhaji Hon Mbemba Jatta has been scheduled as follows:

Location: Kombo Gunjur WCR
Date: Saturday May 16th
Time: 10:00am

We kindly ask everyone to keep the deceased and family in your prayers during this difficult time. May Allah grant the departed eternal peace and give the family strength and patience.

Thank you for your support and condolences.

Negotiations underway to organise test matches for the Scorpions - GFF

The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) has disclosed that negotiations are underway to organise two international friendly matches for the Scorpions in June 2026 against Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau.
The GFF stated that the full details regarding the June fixtures, including the match dates, kick-off times and ticket arrangements will be communicated to the public once finalised.
The Scorpions, who failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 World Cup, will use their international friendly matches to prepare themselves set for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Gambia have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations twice in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
The Scorpions were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after losing to Cameroon 2-0.
The Gambia were eliminated in the group phase of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after finishing bottom-place in their group without a point in three group outings.

By Ndey Jobarteh

Open Letter to The Gambia National Assembly!

The continued stay of Seedy Njie in high Public Office after his deeply divisive and discriminatory remarks represents not merely a political controversy, but a Constitutional, Ethical, and National crisis that strikes at the core of Democratic Governance and Equal Citizenship in The Gambia.

This matter goes far beyond tribal rhetoric. It concerns the dangerous normalisation of exclusion, discrimination, abuse of political authority, and the potential institutionalisation of political and ethnic favouritism in matters relating to employment, appointments, promotions, and access to State opportunities.

The public has heard affirmations suggesting that Mandinkas will not get jobs, and that citizens who do not support the Government or the NPP should not expect employment opportunities. Such statements fundamentally violate the spirit and principles of the Constitution, which guarantees equality, citizenship rights, non-discrimination, and the impartial administration of Public Institutions.

No democratic State can survive when access to employment, public service, security, promotions, or opportunity becomes dependent on political loyalty or ethnic identity. That path destroys meritocracy, erodes national cohesion, weakens institutions, and creates conditions for State-sponsored exclusion and political persecution.

What makes this matter exceptionally grave is that Seedy Njie is not only Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, but also Chairman of the Defence and Security Committee of Parliament, one of the most sensitive oversight positions in the Republic. That Office demands neutrality, Constitutional maturity, National responsibility, and unquestionable public confidence.

At a time when citizens increasingly hear phrases such as “orders from the top” in relation to Police actions, intimidation, and politically sensitive arrests, these statements raise serious alarm about the politicisation of State Institutions and the potential misuse of Security structures against perceived political opponents.

History has already taught Gambians the dangerous consequences of silence, fear, tribal division, abuse of State power, and the collapse of Institutional independence. We cannot claim to have learned from the past while simultaneously normalising the very behaviours and rhetoric that once pushed this nation into repression and democratic decay.

The National Assembly now faces a defining Constitutional and Moral test. Parliament cannot demand accountability from other Institutions while remaining silent when one of its own Senior Leaders is accused of rhetoric that threatens Constitutional Order, National Unity, and Equal Citizenship. Silence in this moment will not be interpreted as neutrality. It will be interpreted as Institutional Complicity.

We therefore call on the National Assembly to act decisively in defence of the Constitution, Parliamentary Ethics, Democratic Governance, Equal Citizenship, and national cohesion by initiating immediate processes to remove Seedy Njie from his positions as Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Defence and Security Committee.

Leadership is a Constitutional trust, not a political weapon to intimidate, exclude, divide, or marginalise sections of the population. The credibility of Parliament itself is now on trial before the Gambian people.

The Gambia belongs equally to all Gambians!