SheTale Media Network

PC: The Girls' Agenda Ladies A young women-led organisation, The Girls’ Agenda, on Thursday, April 17, 2026, held a virtual press briefing to inform the media about a new project aimed at combating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in The GambiaOn Thursday, April 17, 2026, a young women-led organization called The Girls' Agenda held a virtual press briefing to announce a new project aimed at combating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia. The project, funded by Amplify Change with a grant of £74,996, will be implemented over two years across the West Coast and North Bank Regions. It focuses on five key interventions designed to raise awareness, strengthen community engagement, and empower young people to contribute to ending this harmful practice. During the briefing, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Mariama Sanyang emphasised that the initiative targets critical stakeholders, especially community members, to ensure collective action against FGM. She highlighted the imp...

PC: Amie Ceesay In a powerful address from Jarra Soma, Amie Ceesay, Chairperson of the Jarra West District Youth Committee and a community health nursing student in Mansakonko, has issued a strong condemnation of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), describing it as a “stolen future” for young girls. Ceesay noted that while FGM was once widely practised in her community, attitudes are gradually changing. According to her, the practice is no longer as widespread as it used to be, signalling a shift in awareness and perception. Although she is not a survivor herself, Ceesay shared the deeply personal experiences of those close to her. “I have friends who are survivors. I currently live with a friend who is a survivor,” she said during an interview in March 2026. She explained that her friend continues to live with emotional and physical trauma. “She tells me that whenever she hears people discussing FGM, she cannot participate because she knows the pain she is going through. She even admits ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

            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...

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...