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Barrow’s Final SoNA: Growth, Reforms and a Push for Inclusive Development

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When President Adama Barrow delivered his final State of the Nation Address (SoNA) of the current term on Thursday, March 26, 2026, he did more than present statistics—he offered a broad narrative of a country in transition, balancing economic growth with social reforms aimed at inclusion and long-term resilience. From digital transformation and agriculture to health, education and social protection, the address painted a picture of a government attempting to modernise while responding to everyday realities faced by citizens across The Gambia. A Digital Shift Driving Growth At the heart of the President’s message is the growing role of technology. With mobile subscriptions surpassing 3.4 million and ICT sector employment rising by nearly 20 per cent, the digital economy is increasingly shaping national development. “In 2025, digital transformation acted as a key driver of growth, jobs, and efficient governance,” Barrow said. The sector’s contribution—exceeding D3.9 billion—reflects a w...
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Gambia to Inaugurate Specialized GBV Court by Second Quarter of 2026

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President Adama Barrow The Government of The Gambia has constructed a specialised court to handle gender-based violence (GBV) cases, with plans to inaugurate the facility in the second quarter of 2026, President Adama Barrow has announced. The development, revealed during the 2026 State of the Nation Address held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, marks a significant step toward strengthening access to justice for survivors of GBV and addressing delays often associated with such cases in conventional courts. According to the President, the establishment of the court underscores the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring the timely prosecution of GBV-related offences. Once operational, the court is expected to provide faster case handling, survivor-sensitive procedures, and improved coordination among justice actors. “To prevent delays in administering justice regarding GBV, a specialised court has been built and is scheduled to be inaugurated in the second ...
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Bound by Tradition, Divided by Choice: Women in LRR Debate FGM

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PC: AI-Generated Bound by Tradition, Divided by Choice: Women in LRR Debate FGM A decade after the Women's (Amendment) Act 2015 outlawed female genital mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia, women in the Lower River Region (LRR) remain deeply divided — caught between loyalty to tradition and growing awareness of its risks. Despite years of advocacy, UNICEF data shows that about three in four Gambian women aged 15–49 have undergone FGM, making the country one of the highest-prevalence nations worldwide. Although the rate among younger girls is believed to be decreasing, the practice persists — often in secrecy. Interviews conducted in March 2026 across Jarra and Kiang reveal a complex and often contradictory reality. For some women, FGM is a deeply rooted cultural and religious obligation; for others, it is a harmful practice they are determined to end. “It is Sunnah” — Faith and Conviction Fatoumata Barrow, a resident of Jarra Soma, firmly defends the practice, describing it as a religiou...
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“I Refused the Knife”: The Gambian Woman Who Ended a Generational FGM Legacy

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            PC: AI Generated “They told me it was the mark of a woman; I decided it was the scar of a secret I refused to carry.” When Mrs. Nyaranding Cham was asked to inherit the title of “Ngansingbaa”—the community’s traditional cutter—after her mother’s passing, she made a decision that would quietly transform her village: she refused. It was a hot afternoon in March 2026. As the sun softened and a cool breeze drifted through Kolior in Kiang, Lower River Region, families prepared to break their fast. In a quiet compound just off the Trans-Gambia Highway, Nyaranding, believed to be in her late 70s or early 80s, sat on a cement platform at the centre of her home. Around her, younger women moved between the kitchen and courtyard, preparing the evening meal. Her voice was low, strained, and unsteady, but her message was firm. “We are the custodians of the knife in Kolior,” she said. “My grandmother was a cutter. When she passed, my mother inherited it. And when my mother died, the vill...
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Legal Compliance Over Tradition: Imam Spares Grandchildren from FGM Despite Beliefs

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PC: AI Generated In the bustling village of Kaiaf in The Gambia’s Lower River Region, a senior religious leader finds himself caught between deeply held beliefs and the realities of the law. Musa Babanding Kassama, representing the imam of Kaiaf, maintains that female genital mutilation (FGM) is rooted in religious and cultural tradition. Yet, in a striking contradiction, he has chosen not to subject his grandchildren to the practice—citing legal consequences rather than a change in personal conviction. Speaking to this medium in March 2026, he said, “I am above seventy, and I will not want to be jailed because of FGM." His decision reflects a growing tension in Kiang district, where FGM remains widely practised despite being outlawed under the Women’s (Amendment) Act of 2015. The law criminalises the practice, imposing penalties of up to three years imprisonment, or life imprisonment if death occurs. A community divided Kiang has become a focal point in the national debate over F...
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‘Respect the Law’: Bundung Resident Urges End to FGM in The Gambia

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               PC: AI Generated A resident of Bundung has called on Gambians—particularly young people—to respect the country’s ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), urging communities to abandon a practice he says continues to put the health and rights of women and girls at risk. Modou Bah appealed during an interview in Bundung, Kanifing Municipality of the Gambia in March 2026, where he acknowledged the deep cultural roots of FGM but stressed that national laws introduced to protect women and girls must take precedence. “FGM is a deeply rooted cultural practice, but the government banned it because of the harm it causes,” Bah said. “As citizens, we must respect that decision.” FGM was outlawed in The Gambia in 2015 as part of efforts to safeguard women and girls from serious health complications and human rights abuses. Medical experts and advocates warn that the practice can lead to severe pain, infections, complications during childbirth, and long-term physical and psychological...
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Hidden Harm: Advocate Warns FGM Is Being Carried Out on Babies in The Gambia

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PC: AI Generated A troubling shift in the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia is raising alarm among child protection advocates, who warn that the procedure is increasingly being carried out in secrecy on infant girls, making it harder to detect and prevent. Sheikh Manneh, a community advocate working on protection and gender inclusion programs with the Gambia Red Cross Society, says the evolving nature of the practice poses new challenges to efforts to eliminate it. Speaking in an interview at his office in Jambur in March 2026, Manneh said his understanding of FGM deepened after undergoing specialised training and engaging with women who have experienced its long-term consequences. “After being trained and listening to survivors share their experiences, I realised that the practice does more harm than good,” he said. FGM, which involves the partial or total removal of female genitalia for non-medical reasons, has been practised for generations in parts of The Ga...
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