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“I Circumcised All My Daughters, But I Will Not Circumcise the Next One”

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In Gunjur, West Coast Region of the Gambia, where tradition has long shaped decisions about family life, one father’s reflection is quietly challenging a deeply rooted practice. Abass Bangura, a community leader and father of seven, says he circumcised all three of his daughters—but would not do so again. “Many might find it ironic, but I had my children circumcised simply because I didn’t understand the harm it could cause,” he said in April 2026. “At the time, I truly believed I was honouring and preserving my cultural traditions.” His shift reflects a broader tension in The Gambia, where Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains widespread despite growing awareness and legal restrictions. According to national data, approximately 75.7% of women aged 15–49 in The Gambia have undergone FGM, placing the country among those with the highest prevalence globally. The practice was criminalised in 2015, yet enforcement challenges and strong cultural expectations have allowed it to persist—oft...
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EU Pumps Over D1.6 billion into Gambia’s Agriculture to Cut Imports and Boost Incomes

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At the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre on April 14, 2026, the launch of the Sustainable Production for Resilient and Inclusive New Generations (SPRING) programme signalled more than just another development initiative—it marked a major financial intervention aimed at reshaping The Gambia’s agricultural economy. Also in attendance were key financial and institutional stakeholders whose roles are central to the effective management and oversight of the project’s funds. These included Leena Malde, Vice President of COLEAD, and Permanent and Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Mod A.K Ceesay, Ndey Fatou Jobe, and Fatou Jammeh-Touray. They represented their respective ministries in the absence of cabinet ministers, underscoring the strong institutional commitment required to ensure that the over D1.6 billion investment under the SPRING project is effectively coordinated, transparently managed, and delivers tangible economic returns for the country. Backed by the European Union, the pro...
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EU Pumps Over D1.6 billion into Gambia’s Agriculture to Cut Imports and Boost Incomes

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Image
At the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre on April 14, 2026, the launch of the Sustainable Production for Resilient and Inclusive New Generations (SPRING) project signalled more than just another development initiative—it marked a major financial intervention aimed at reshaping The Gambia’s agricultural economy. Also in attendance were key financial and institutional stakeholders whose roles are central to the effective management and oversight of the project’s funds. These included Leena Malde, Vice President of COLEAD, and Permanent and Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Mod A.K Ceesay, Ndey Fatou Jobe, and Fatou Jammeh-Touray. They represented their respective ministries in the absence of cabinet ministers, underscoring the strong institutional commitment required to ensure that the over D1.6 billion investment under the SPRING project is effectively coordinated, transparently managed, and delivers tangible economic returns for the country. Backed by the European Union, the proje...
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Nyagen Alkalo Stamp Seizure Sparks Political Bias Concerns Amid Voter Registration

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The recent withdrawal of the Nyagen Village in Central River region, Niani Constituency Alkalo’s official stamp during the ongoing supplementary voter registration exercise has sparked serious concerns of political interference, with civil society observers suggesting the move may be linked to perceived affiliation with the opposition. The Government announced on April 9 that the stamp had been seized and placed under “secure custody,” citing concerns over its alleged misuse after the Alkalo reportedly entrusted it to his son. Authorities maintained that the decision was necessary to protect the integrity of the voter registration process. However, during a press briefing held at the Gambia Participates office on April 11, 2026, findings from domestic election observers, including Gambia Participates and the Elections Watch Committee (EWC), point to a different narrative. Observers Question Official Justification Although the government did not provide detailed evidence of misuse, obse...
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Law vs Tradition: Why FGM Persists Despite the Gambia’s Ban

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For many communities in The Gambia, the 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) has not ended the practice—it has simply pushed it out of public view. Speaking in Kiang Kaiaf, lower River Region of The Gambia, in March 2026, Mrs. Manding Kassama states that FGM is deeply embedded in tradition and cannot be easily abandoned, despite increasing awareness of its harmful effects. “FGM has been practised for many years. That is why it will be difficult for us to abolish it,” she said. While medical evidence has consistently shown the risks associated with the practice—especially during childbirth—Kassama says cultural and religious beliefs continue to shape attitudes in her community. “We often hear that FGM causes health problems, but for us, it is part of our tradition and religion. It is not easy to stop it abruptly,” she added. A Practice Driven Underground Although FGM was criminalised in 2015, the practice remains widespread. About 73% of women aged 15–49 in The Gambia have underg...
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Youth Leader Condemns ‘Sealing’ but Supports Circumcision in FGM Debate

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In a deeply polarising intervention in The Gambia’s ongoing debate on female genital mutilation (FGM), Kiang East District Youth Chairperson Kutubo Kassama has condemned the most severe form of the practice—commonly known as “sealing”—while expressing support for what he describes as “circumcision.” His remarks reflect a growing but controversial narrative among some community voices seeking a middle ground between cultural traditions and human rights concerns in a country where FGM remains highly prevalent. More than 73 per cent of girls and women aged 15 to 49 in The Gambia have already undergone the practice, many before the age of five. Speaking during an interview in March 2026, Kassama was unequivocal in his rejection of “sealing,” also known as infibulation, describing it as harmful and unacceptable. “Sealing is completely bad and should not be encouraged in any way. Women who go through it face a lot of challenges, especially in the early days of marriage,” he said. However, de...
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Islamic Scholar Says Anti-FGM Law Violates Religious Rights

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A prominent Islamic scholar in Kiang Kaiaf Village, Lower River Region of the Gambia, Mr. Bakary Sanneh, has spoken out against the national ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), arguing that the law infringes on religious and cultural rights. Speaking in March 2026, Mr. Sanneh drew a distinction between what he described as harmful “mutilation” and “female circumcision” (Type I), which he claims is rooted in Sunnah tradition and associated with modesty and cleanliness. “Proponents of the ban have imposed what they call a ‘worst law’ to satisfy Western donors, ignoring the religious and cultural freedoms guaranteed in the 1997 Constitution,” he said. Sanneh asserts that, as a Muslim, he believes the practice is religiously rooted. “If it were not good, the religion would have clearly condemned it,” he argued. However, national data tells a more complex story. According to the Demographic and Health Surveys Program 2019–2020 survey, about 73% of women aged 15–49 in The Gambia have und...
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