The Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) has raised concerns over unexplained deaths, violence, healthcare challenges, freedom of movement, irregular migration, and inflammatory ethnic rhetoric in its latest monthly assessment of the human rights situation in The Gambia.
In its Human Rights Incident Report for August 2026, EFSCRJ documented 10 human rights and public-safety incidents, including suspected violent crime and unexplained deaths, a gunshot injury, the interception of people suspected of irregular migration, an alleged restriction of movement at the Banjul Ferry Terminal, and two incidents involving ethnically divisive and politically inflammatory rhetoric.
EFSCRJ, an independent civil society organization working on human rights, democratic governance, accountability, transparency and constitutionalism, said its monitoring seeks to document incidents affecting fundamental rights and assess the responses of public institutions.
The organization identified the right to life and personal security as the most serious pattern emerging during August. Among the cases highlighted were the death of an unidentified person in Senegambia, the death of Jainaba Jawara in Tujereng, a woman who died following an alleged assault in Banjul, and the discovery of a man’s body at the Manjai-Kotu Quarry. EFSCRJ said the circumstances surrounding the cases require effective investigations and, where appropriate, forensic examinations.
The report also focused heavily on the death of Ebrima Gassama at Brikama Health Center on August 29, which raised questions about access to essential healthcare and the reliability of critical infrastructure.
According to his family, Gassama, who had asthma, was receiving oxygen when electricity allegedly went off at the health facility. He was subsequently moved to the maternity wing, which the family said had solar power. His relatives further alleged that he did not receive the necessary care and support before his death. EFSCRJ and GALA have called for an impartial investigation.
EFSCRJ stressed that the circumstances must be established independently before reaching conclusions about negligence or responsibility. It said reliable electricity becomes directly connected to the effective delivery of healthcare when health facilities depend on power to provide essential or potentially life-saving treatment.
Another major issue highlighted is the emergence of ethnic and politically inflammatory rhetoric. The report cited remarks attributed to Imam Baba Leigh concerning Mandinkas and separate statements attributed to Imam Daaru Sanyang concerning presidential candidate Talib Ahmed Bensouda. EFSCRJ warned that such rhetoric could undermine non-discrimination, social cohesion and peaceful democratic participation.
The Center said political competition must remain peaceful and inclusive. It warned against using ethnicity, religion, or perceived identity to exclude citizens from political participation or encourage hostility against candidates or communities.
The report additionally documented the interception of 28 people, including six minors, suspected of involvement in irregular migration. EFSCRJ called on authorities to ensure humane treatment, assess the protection needs of the children, and investigate possible trafficking or smuggling.
On institutional accountability, EFSCRJ urged the Government to strengthen mechanisms for prompt and impartial investigations into unexplained deaths and serious violence, improve contingency arrangements in healthcare facilities, combat ethnic discrimination and politically motivated violence, and ensure public institutions exercise authority lawfully and without discrimination.
The organization concluded that protecting human rights requires more than responding after harm occurs, calling instead for prevention, lawful institutions, independent investigations, accountability and access to remedies.
“Every life matters,” EFSCRJ stated, adding that political disagreement must never justify discrimination, violence or abuse of public authority.
