By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
Hon. Fatou Cham, National Assembly Member for Sanementereng Constituency, has called on Minister of Lands Hamat N.K. Bah, and the Ministry of Local Government and Lands to justify the demolition of homes in Salagi, which left at least 17 families homeless. The demolitions, carried out by the Department of Physical Planning on March 28, 2025, sparked outrage during Cham’s tour of the affected area.
“What I have seen here is utterly wrong. You cannot render your people homeless,” Cham declared, criticizing the government’s actions. “In other countries, governments house their citizens, not displace them.”
Cham demanded an explanation from Minister Bah and his department, questioning the legality and morality of the demolitions. She described the act as “heartless” and a sign of “lacking empathy,” pointing out that many countries prioritize affordable housing over displacing citizens for projects like garages or prayer grounds.
She further challenged the Department of Physical Planning’s priorities, noting that other communities in the Greater Banjul Area lack essential facilities like cemeteries or prayer grounds, yet face no such demolitions. Cham questioned whether inheriting land in Salagi has become a crime, emphasizing the need to protect residents’ rights.
“This must be the last time Sukuta Salagi faces such demolitions,” Cham warned the Barrow administration. “You cannot prioritize football fields or playgrounds over people’s homes. We are exhausted by these unnecessary actions.”
The outspoken MP vowed to continue advocating for the affected families, urging the government to provide housing solutions rather than displacing its citizens.
The Salagi demolitions are part of a broader, contentious land management saga in The Gambia, rooted in the government’s efforts to enforce urban planning regulations. The Salagi Layout, established in 2001 for residential allocation to qualified Gambians, has been plagued by disputes over alleged encroachments on public spaces designated for schools, mosques, and other infrastructure.
The Ministry of Lands claims these demolitions, conducted under the Physical Planning and Development Control Act of 1991, target illegal constructions on state-reserved lands. They follow years of dialogue, inspections, and warnings to curb unauthorized developments.
However, residents and victims paint a starkly different picture, alleging systemic corruption and selective enforcement. Many, like Mariama Bojang, a single mother who lost her nearly completed home, claim they legally acquired their plots, often with permits from the Physical Planning Department. “I spent D900,000 building my house over four years. They gave me documents to build, then called it reserved land,” Bojang said, highlighting a lack of prior notice or compensation.
Others, including Dawda Cham, who took loans to build on inherited land, argue the government failed to engage communities or follow proper procedures, leaving families traumatized and homeless.
Historical tensions over land in Sukuta-Salagi exacerbate the crisis. In 2007, the Department of Physical Planning advised Sukuta’s leadership against land transactions to avoid conflicts, yet disputes persisted. Residents allege that lands reserved for public use, such as hospitals or prayer grounds, have been sold to private individuals, including government officials’ associates, fueling accusations of land grabbing.
A 2024 panel report, cited by victims, reportedly exposed misconduct in land allocations, though the Ministry has not made it public. The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice has condemned the demolitions, urging legal action and full compensation for victims. It notes that even traditional landowners, like the Kenebaring Kabilo, remain uncompensated.
The outspoken MP’s call echoes growing public frustration, with victims vowing to resist and demand justice as the government’s urban planning efforts clash with the realities of inherited land rights and systemic failures in land management.
