By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
In a groundbreaking ruling hailed as a milestone for animal welfare, the Bundung Magistrate Court has sentenced a donkey owner to six months’ imprisonment for extreme cruelty. The conviction, following a guilty plea, marks only the second such case in The Gambia’s history, the first being a 1998 incident in Lamin Daranka where a donkey was shot for trespassing.
The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust (GHDT) welcomed the verdict in a press statement, describing it as a “historic turning point” signaling growing judicial intolerance toward animal abuse. “This case, involving a donkey used in commercial garbage collection, underscores a growing judicial intolerance for animal abuse,” said Dr. Kebba Daffeh, GHDT Consultant.
The abused donkey, named Jambarr, was seized on November 11, 2025, by two GHDT staff members at the Bakoteh dumpsite. They observed severe welts, elevated marks, and blood on the animal’s neck, shoulders, chest, and ribcage while it pulled a cart loaded with household waste. The staff reported the matter to Bakoteh Police Station and transported Jambarr to GHDT’s clinic in Makasutu for treatment.
Dr. Daffeh detailed Jambarr’s condition upon arrival: “He demonstrated significant pain… including aggressive reactions to handlers.” Immediate pain relief and wound cleaning were administered, leading to rapid improvement. “It is of my medical opinion that Jambarr suffered indisputable physical and mental distress,” Dr. Daffeh stated, emphasizing veterinary forensic evidence as key to the prosecution, mirroring the 1998 case.
The conviction highlights broader issues in Gambia’s urban waste management, where donkey-drawn carts play a vital role but the animals are often mistreated. GHDT stressed the need for regulation amid rising equine-led garbage collection.
To shift from reactive prosecutions to prevention, GHDT proposed a partnership with Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC). Measures include mandatory cart licensing with number plates for traceability; stationary welfare checks at Bakoteh dumpsite; professional training and certification for drivers on humane handling and nutrition; a registry linking permits to welfare standards; and public education campaigns via council media.
GHDT also urged the Department of Livestock Services to fully operationalize the Animal Health Act 2023 and formulate supporting laws. “Comprehensive regulation is the only way to ensure that the animals serving our communities are treated with the dignity and care they deserve,” the statement said.
Animal advocates hope this deterrent will catalyze systemic change, protecting the equines essential to Gambian livelihoods.
