Nine years after Gambians voted out dictator Yahya Jammeh in 2016 with the rallying cry “Never Again,” the country is sliding backward on human rights and democratic reforms, according to the maiden State of Human Rights in The Gambia 2025 report released by the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ).
The comprehensive assessment paints a mixed but troubling picture: notable legal gains since the transition have not translated into lived realities, with weak enforcement, selective justice, resurgent corruption, and shrinking civic space undermining the post-2017 democratic experiment.
In a foreword, EFSCRJ Executive Director Madi Jobarteh warns that the covenant between the people and their leaders is being broken. While institutions like the National Human Rights Commission exist and progressive laws — including the Access to Information Act (2021), Persons with Disabilities Act (2021), and Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act (2023) — have been passed, “the gap between law and enforcement has become a chasm,” he states.
TRRC and Transitional Justice Stalling
Of the 265 recommendations from the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), the government accepted 263, translating into 304 planned activities. By May 2025, only 60 were fully implemented, with 104 ongoing and 101 untouched. Victims still await reparations, and key mechanisms like the Special Tribunal remain unestablished, perpetuating impunity for Jammeh-era atrocities.
Constitutional reform has twice failed. The people-driven 2020 draft, which included presidential term limits, was rejected by the National Assembly. An executive-led 2024 version, criticized for lacking consultation and weakening checks on power, met the same fate in July 2025. The authoritarian 1997 Constitution remains in force.
Civic Space Under Pressure
2025 saw heightened restrictions on freedoms of assembly and expression. At least 40 young people faced charges for “unlawful assembly” after peaceful protests against corruption in Jammeh’s asset sales and high data prices.
Protesters, including GALA activists, reported arbitrary arrests, beatings, and teargas use. One protester, Omar Badgie, was beaten to death during a police operation in Mandinari. Activist Ebrima “Ghetto Pen” Jallow was assaulted in custody.
Freedom of expression faced challenges, with cases like the arrest of former soldier Abdoulie Sanyang over radio remarks. Media remains vibrant but faces legal risks under provisions of the Criminal Offenses Act.
Corruption Resurgent
The Gambia’s Corruption Perceptions Index fell to 37/100. Investigative reporting exposed opaque sales of Jammeh’s assets, sparking protests. Officials banned by the Janneh Commission have been reinstated via loopholes. Audit reports revealed mismanagement across health facilities and other sectors, yet few prosecutions have occurred. Selective enforcement is evident: ruling party supporters often escape scrutiny while critics face sedition or insult charges.
Economic, Social Rights Lag
Despite constitutional guarantees, basic education is not fully free due to hidden costs. Healthcare suffers from corruption, shortages, and high costs; maternal mortality stands at 354 per 100,000 live births. Food insecurity affects 27-29% of the population. Land grabbing in areas like Sukuta-Salagi displaces communities. Women hold just 5 of 58 National Assembly seats; no persons with disabilities serve in the Cabinet or Parliament. FGM persists with minimal convictions.
Police Brutality and Insecurity
Despite billions in reform funding, police brutality continues. Armed robberies rose, and operations often involve excessive force. The report documents failures in access to justice, prolonged detentions, and unaddressed child rights tragedies like the 2022 AKI scandal that killed over 70 children with no convictions.
EFSCRJ concludes that the Gambia stands at a critical juncture. Without urgent action — full TRRC implementation, genuine constitutional reform, anti-corruption enforcement, and protection of civic space — gains since 2017 risk reversal.
The report calls on President Barrow, the National Assembly, judiciary, security forces, civil society, and citizens to reclaim the “Never Again” promise through decisive political will and accountability. “This report is both a warning and an invitation,” Jobarteh states. History, it warns, is watching.
