Gambia Police Hand Over Murder Suspect to Senegalese Authorities

By JarranewsTV Staff Reporter

Banjul, October 20, 2025

The Gambia Police Force (GPF), through its National Central Bureau (NCB) at Police Headquarters in Banjul, has officially handed over murder suspect Borry Sonko to the Senegalese National Police.

Sonko is accused of killing his pregnant wife, Bintou Manjang, in the Senegalese town of Bingona before allegedly fleeing into Gambian territory. His arrest followed swift and coordinated efforts by Gambian police officers in collaboration with the victim’s family.

During the handover ceremony on Sunday, October 19, 2025, the Senegalese National Police also returned to the GPF a truck with a Gambian registration number that had been intercepted in Senegal as part of related investigations.

Police officials described the operation as a further demonstration of the growing cooperation between The Gambia and Senegal in tackling transnational and organized crime. The latest collaboration comes on the heels of several successful cross-border operations, including the arrest and transfer of Ebou Secka and Buba Drammeh, who were handed over to Gambian authorities after being apprehended in Senegal for capital offenses. The GPF also recently transferred a murder suspect from Wellingara (Senegal) to the Senegalese Police in Basse.

According to officials, the joint operations send a strong message that “there is no safe haven for criminals in either country.”

The Gambia and Senegal have reaffirmed their commitment to mutual assistance and law enforcement cooperation under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two police institutions.

In a statement, the GPF emphasized its “unwavering commitment to cross-border collaboration, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring justice for victims of serious crimes.”

Together, the two nations continue to stand firm against transnational crime — promoting safety, justice, and accountability across their shared borders.

THE VULTURE WHO RETURNED TOO LATE: A RESPONSE TO GAGIGO’S MISGUIDED ATTACK ON PRESIDENT BARROW

By Yaya Dampha, NPP Diaspora Coordinator – Sweden

It is both ironic and pitiful that Gagigo — a man whose voice was completely absent during the dark years of Yahya Jammeh’s brutal dictatorship — has suddenly reappeared, wagging his finger at those who actually stood up when it mattered. After decades of silence, he now wishes to lecture President Adama Barrow and the Gambian people on moral courage. How convenient.

Let’s not mince words: this is the real vulture — one who feeds on the sweat, blood, and sacrifice of others. While Gambians risked everything to reclaim their freedom, Gagigo was nowhere to be found. He neither spoke up nor stood up. He vanished during the struggle, only to reemerge now that democracy has been secured by others.

WHERE WAS GAGIGO WHEN GAMBIA NEEDED HIM?

When Adama Barrow, alongside countless ordinary citizens, dared to confront Jammeh’s regime at great personal risk, Gagigo was missing in action.

When activists were jailed, when journalists were silenced, when innocent Gambians were tortured or exiled, Gagigo’s name was nowhere in the fight.

Now that the nation has triumphed — through courage, through unity, through sacrifice — Gagigo seeks to claim the moral high ground. This is not courage. It is cowardice wrapped in ambition.

Leadership is not tested when the coast is clear. It is tested in the storm. And while Adama Barrow stood up when it was dangerous, Gagigo only appeared when it was safe — and when he saw political opportunity.

ON BARROW’S ROLE AND GAGIGO’S CONVENIENT AMNESIA

It is laughable for anyone, least of all Gagigo, to downplay President Barrow’s historic role in leading the coalition that ended 22 years of dictatorship.

Barrow didn’t inherit power — he earned it through the will of the Gambian people, united behind a cause that demanded courage and conviction.

To suggest otherwise is an insult not only to Barrow but to every Gambian who cast a vote for change in 2016, every activist who risked arrest, every journalist who refused to be silenced.

Gagigo’s attempt to erase that sacrifice is not political commentary — it’s intellectual dishonesty.

THE REAL MORAL FAILURE

Gagigo pontificates about “moral authority” and “transitional justice,” yet he carries no record of moral courage. Where was his voice when Gambians were crying for justice under Jammeh? Where was his pen when the TRRC victims were still being silenced? Where was his outrage when innocent people disappeared into Jammeh’s dungeons?

He was silent. He was comfortable. And now he is ambitious.

It is the height of hypocrisy for a man who contributed nothing to the fight to suddenly question those who bore the brunt of it.

BARROW STOOD WHEN OTHERS HID

President Barrow’s record is not one of perfection — no leader’s is — but it is one of courage, patience, and national unity. He stood when many fell silent. He led when others hesitated. And he continues to steer a nation that is rebuilding itself after two decades of fear and division.

Those who today throw stones from the sidelines were spectators when it mattered. They want to reap the harvest from a field they never tilled.

That, fellow Gambians, is the true image of a political vulture.

LET THE PEOPLE REMEMBER

The Gambian people have not forgotten who was there in 2016 — who stood in the rain and the sun, who risked their lives to make change possible. And they will not be fooled by those who appear years later pretending to care for a cause they abandoned when it mattered most.

So yes, if Gagigo feels attacked by President Barrow’s metaphor of “vultures,” he should check the mirror. Sometimes, the truth hurts precisely because it fits.

FINAL WORD

Gambia’s democracy was built on sacrifice — not opportunism.

It was sustained by courage — not cowardice.

It was defended by doers — not talkers.

And so, as the nation looks ahead, let us beware of vultures circling above the progress we’ve made — those who contributed nothing but now wish to feast on the fruits of others’ struggle.

President Adama Barrow led when it was hard. Gagigo only arrived when it was easy.

History will remember the difference.

Editorial: The Contradictions of Essa Faal’s Public Life

By JarraNews TV Editorial Board=

"When arrogance takes root, wisdom dies — and with it, every chance of true success"

In politics, credibility is earned through consistency. When words and deeds move in opposite directions, the public has a duty to question them. That is the dilemma confronting Essa Faal, the former Lead Counsel of The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), whose recent political outbursts have drawn attention to the contradictions in his own record.

Faal rose to national prominence through the TRRC hearings, where he demanded accountability for abuses under Yahya Jammeh’s rule. Yet critics point out that his own career began inside that same system. He served as a state prosecutor during the early Jammeh years—an era remembered for swift trials and heavy sentences against alleged coup plotters. Those choices may have been lawful, but they hardly resemble the fearless dissent he now celebrates.

When the TRRC was still at its most sensitive stage, Faal stepped away to pursue politics. The Commission’s final report, while historic, remains incomplete in key areas; its recommendations continue to gather dust. Supporters call his departure a personal decision, but many Gambians saw it as ambition interrupting national duty. A process meant to close one painful chapter of our history ended with fresh questions about motive and follow-through.

Internationally, Faal’s résumé includes service on the defense team at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, which tried former Liberian president Charles Taylor. Defending war-crimes suspects is a right in international law, yet the contrast between that work and his current moral sermonizing invites scrutiny. One cannot champion victims at home while having stood for perpetrators abroad without explaining the bridge between those roles.

Today, Faal positions himself as the fiercest critic of President Adama Barrow, accusing the government of creeping authoritarianism. Dissent is healthy in any democracy, but accusation without substantiation weakens the opposition and cheapens national debate. What Gambians need are policies, not personal vendettas—clarity of vision, not sound bites on talk shows.

Essa Faal’s story is therefore not only about one man’s ambition; it is a mirror of our political culture. Too often, we elevate personalities before examining their records. Accountability must apply to everyone who claims the moral high ground—including those who once occupied powerful seats in the very systems they now condemn.

The Gambia deserves a politics built on honesty, consistency, and service—not reinvention.

Commentary: The UDP at a Crossroads – A Giant in Disarray

The United Democratic Party (UDP), once the unshakable fortress of opposition politics in The Gambia, now stands on trembling ground. The party that once marched in unison behind a single yellow banner is today fragmented, uncertain, and dangerously distracted by internal rivalries and leadership fatigue. As the 2026 presidential election approaches, one thing becomes increasingly clear: UDP cannot unseat President Adama Barrow — not in this current political climate, and not with this fractured house.

1. A Party Bleeding from Within

The UDP’s latest crisis — the mass defection of nearly half its executive to Talib Ahmed Bensouda’s new movement — marks more than just a personnel change. It represents a symbolic collapse of internal confidence. Talib Bensouda, once seen as the UDP’s future, now embodies its disillusionment. His departure didn’t just drain talent; it drained credibility, youth energy, and national appeal from the party’s core.

In Gambian politics, perception is power. And today, the perception is clear: UDP is no longer the party of progress but the party of nostalgia — still echoing past slogans while others write new political scripts.

2. Leadership Fatigue and the Darboe Dilemma

Ousainou Darboe’s long leadership has given UDP both legacy and limits. After decades of faithful service, the question now is not whether Darboe can lead, but whether he still inspires. Political generations have shifted. Gambians under 35 — who make up the majority of the electorate — speak the language of digital politics, jobs, and modern reform, not the rhetoric of resistance.

While Barrow positions himself as the “builder of continuity” and Talib Bensouda crafts himself as “the youthful alternative,” UDP remains caught in the middle — too old to be revolutionary, too divided to be reformist.

3. Vacancies that Reveal a Void

The UDP’s published list of vacant national positions reads less like a sign of renewal and more like an obituary of lost unity.

When a party struggles to fill positions like National Organising Secretary and National Campaign Manager — the very engines of electoral mobilization — it signals disorganization at the heart of the machine. A party preparing to take State House should be refining its message, not replacing its messengers.

The sheer volume of applicants competing for posts once occupied by seasoned loyalists shows desperation, not discipline. Unity has given way to opportunism, and ambition has replaced cohesion.

4. The Politics of Intimidation vs. The Politics of Discipline

The UDP’s approach to political opponents — insults, intimidation tactics, and the so-called “Foroyaa kanta” — has proven counterproductive. Instead of building bridges, it burns them. Instead of persuasion, it breeds resentment.

Every day, some UDP supporters flood the public space with personal attacks and insults, even cursing people’s parents, merely because they support a different party. That kind of politics alienates neutral voters and disgusts the moderate middle — the very constituency that decides elections in The Gambia.

In contrast, President Adama Barrow’s leniency, discipline, and soft approach have been a quiet but effective political weapon. The NPP’s grassroots strategy — selling the party’s vision without insults, without intimidation, and with respect for all Gambians — is reshaping the tone of Gambian politics. Barrow’s calm temperament and tolerance have become an asset, turning criticism into credibility and anger into admiration.

This contrast between UDP’s aggression and NPP’s composure is one of the most decisive psychological factors that will shape the 2026 vote.

5. President Barrow’s Strategic Advantage

Meanwhile, President Adama Barrow stands stronger than ever. With state machinery, a loyal rural base, and cross-party coalitions quietly solidifying, Barrow represents stability in a sea of fragmentation. He has successfully repositioned himself from “UDP’s accidental president” to “The Gambia’s pragmatic leader.”

Barrow’s political maturity now lies in absorbing disaffected figures from both UDP and the opposition fringes, further expanding his reach. The defections from UDP into Bensouda’s camp — and eventually into Barrow’s orbit — only strengthen the incumbent’s long game.

6. The Riddle of UDP’s Future

Riddle:

 What is a lion without its roar,

 A tree whose roots have gone to war,

 A flag whose color fades with dawn,

 Yet still believes the sun will rise at morn?

The answer is the UDP — still proud, still standing, yet quietly bleeding beneath the golden cloth.

Unless the party can rebuild its structure, empower a younger and united leadership, and redefine its message beyond “Darboe versus Barrow,” it risks becoming the eternal opposition — a party respected for its history, but irrelevant to the future.

       

   Conclusion

UDP’s strength once lay in its unity, discipline, and moral conviction. Today, those very pillars are fractured. The party’s toxic communication culture, leadership fatigue, and internal defections are eroding its electoral base.

President Barrow, seasoned and strategic, will walk into 2026 facing a divided UDP, a splintered opposition, and a strengthened incumbency machine. His soft-spoken leadership, message of tolerance, and disciplined team have become the new model of political persuasion.

Unless UDP urgently reinvents itself, the 2026 elections will not be a contest — they will be a coronation of continuity.

Editorial: Defense of President Adama Barrow. Truth Over Theatre

In recent weeks, the public has been inundated with sensational claims made by former Auditor General Modou Ceesay, accusing President Adama Barrow of interfering with the work of the National Audit Office. These allegations—amplified by opposition-aligned outlets—have cast unnecessary doubt on the integrity of the presidency and the institutions that underpin our democracy.

While concerns about transparency and accountability are always valid, Ceesay’s claims rest on unverified allegations, contradictions, and glaring inconsistencies that fail to stand up to scrutiny.

Where Is the Evidence?

If Modou Ceesay truly possessed evidence that President Barrow interfered with audits, why didn’t the public know long before his dismissal?

It is well-documented that Ceesay’s office had a pattern of leaking audit reports—often prematurely and selectively—to opposition-linked media houses. This was a direct violation of the Audit Office’s confidentiality rules and raised serious questions about professional ethics within that institution.

 If he could leak classified audit reports, why did he never leak evidence of the President’s so-called interference?

The answer is simple: no such evidence exists. His sudden moral awakening after being removed from office—and after rejecting a ministerial position—appears less about integrity and more about personal revenge.

. Lawful Oversight Is Not Interference

The Gambian Constitution and the National Audit Office Act empower the president to ensure accountability and coordination across government. Seeking clarification on audit timelines or administrative procedures—especially during sensitive national periods such as elections—is not political interference, but responsible governance

No evidence has surfaced that President Barrow ever hlted an audit;

Ordered the alteration of findings; or

Issued directives contrary to the law.

Until credible proof emerges, these accusations remain politically motivated conjecture—nothing more.

 The Pattern of Leaks and Political Bias

Multiple reports have established that the Auditor General’s office under Ceesay’s leadership leaked draft reports to partisan media outlets known for their hostility toward the government. This behaviour betrays the neutrality expected of a constitutional officer.

For someone now claiming that he was “silenced” by presidential pressure, his own track record of selective leaking tells a different story.

His “silence” conveniently served his job security, and his “voice” only emerged after he lost his position. That is not courage—it is calculated opportunism.

 Timing Exposes Motive

Ceesay’s allegations came only after two key developments:

 His removal from the office following internal disciplinary concerns and. His rejection of a ministerial appointment extended in good faith by the president.

If he truly believed in accountability, why entertain or even consider a position from the very administration he now accuses? His actions expose not conviction, but bitterness is disguised as principle.he could have resigned in protest.

Barrow’s Record Speaks for Itself

President Adama Barrow’s leadership has been marked by institutional strengthening, not suppression. Under his administration:

The National Audit Office Act (2015) was enacted to guarantee greater independence and operational autonomy.

Budgetary allocations to oversight institutions have increased, ensuring they can perform without constraint.

The Judiciary and National Assembly continue to operate freely—proof of a healthy separation of powers.

These are the hallmarks of democratic progress, not autocratic control.

Integrity or Opportunism?

If Ceesay’s allegations were genuine, he had clear, lawful avenues available to him:

He could have reported interference to the National Assembly.

He could have resigned in protest.

He could have filed a constitutional complaint.

He did none of these. Instead, he chose silence while in office, leaks when it suited him, and accusations after dismissal.

This is not the conduct of a principled whistleblower—it is the behaviour of a bureaucrat seeking revenge for lost privilege.

Defending Presidential Integrity

Since taking office in 2017, President Barrow has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, institutional independence, and democratic reform. The attempt to tarnish his record with baseless accusations is not only unfair—it is an insult to the Gambian people who value truth over propaganda. Modou Ceesay’s credibility is fatally undermined by his office’s repeated leaks; His silence at critical moments; and

his sudden, self-serving “revelations” after removal.  If he truly stood for transparency, he would have acted when it mattered most—not when it served his ego.

The Final Word

The Gambian people deserve facts, not theatrics. They deserve governance rooted in truth, not bitterness. Until Modou Ceesay provides verifiable proof of presidential wrongdoing, his claims remain bitter echoes of personal disappointment, not evidence of corruption.

President Barrow’s record speaks louder than the noise: a leader focused on nation-building, stability, and institutional integrity.

Jarra News TV Editorial Board

For truth, balance, and accountability in national discourse.

Foundation Calls for Urgent Action to Save Hemophilia Patients in Rural Gambia

By Madi S. Njie

Banjul, The Gambia — October 11, 2025:

Rising concerns over inadequate healthcare services and a shortage of trained medical professionals in rural parts of The Gambia were brought to light during the Safe Motherhood and Hemophilia Foundation’s Family Day event held at the Badala Park Hotel.

The event, organized to raise awareness about hemophilia, brought together patients, families, and healthcare stakeholders who discussed the numerous challenges faced by those living with the rare bleeding disorder, particularly in remote areas such as Farafenni, Bansang, and other rural communities across the country, including parts of the Greater Banjul Area.

The tragic death of a hemophilia patient from Farafenni underscored the urgency of the issue. The patient’s mother blamed the loss on inadequate medical attention, explaining that her daughter required specialized care from a hematologist rather than a general surgical procedure. Another parent, Ebrima Top from the Kudang suburbs, also lamented the loss of his child to the same condition.

 “There is a clear shortage of healthcare personnel in these communities,” a foundation representative said, calling on government and health authorities to address the gaps in medical expertise and infrastructure.

Parents of hemophilia patients in rural regions voiced frustration over the lack of medical equipment and limited access to treatment. Currently, the only functional machine for hemophilia testing is located in Banjul, forcing patients to travel long distances for diagnosis and medication.

 “Access to healthcare is extremely limited, and it’s putting lives at risk,” one parent noted, adding that many families struggle financially and emotionally to manage the disorder.

Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder that leads to prolonged bleeding due to insufficient clotting factors in the blood. Managing the condition requires regular clotting factor replacement therapy — a treatment that remains largely unavailable in rural areas.

Mr. Vandy Jayah, President of the Safe Motherhood and Hemophilia Foundation, highlighted ongoing efforts to improve care for hemophilia patients.

 “We’re developing a patient ID system to help healthcare providers better manage cases and ensure timely treatment,” he explained.

The Foundation has also launched a public awareness campaign to dispel misconceptions about hemophilia in The Gambia. Due to limited training, many healthcare workers still fail to identify the condition correctly, often resulting in misdiagnosis or neglect.

 “Hemophilia is real, and people are living with it,” Mr. Jayah emphasized.

Discussions at the event also focused on improving access to medication and service delivery through collaboration with international partners. However, Mr. Jayah admitted that “there is still a long way to go” and called for better documentation and grassroots involvement to address the challenges more effectively.

As part of the awareness activities, the Foundation also organized a Family Fun Day on October 11, giving children with hemophilia the chance to socialize in a safe and supportive environment.

Josephine Touray, Secretary General of the Foundation, stressed the importance of such gatherings in reducing stigma and offering support to families. She also noted significant progress in healthcare access. Previously, patients had to travel to Senegal for testing and treatment, but through the Foundation’s advocacy, a hemophilia testing laboratory has now been established in Banjul, providing local treatment options.

Touray further explained that the Foundation was established by Mr. Jayah after he witnessed a severe bleeding incident involving a patient — an experience that inspired him to take action to improve hemophilia care in the country.

The Foundation continues to collaborate closely with the Gambian government to enhance the management and storage of medical supplies and medication, helping ensure free access to healthcare for hemophilia patients.

In her closing remarks, Touray reminded caregivers and patients of the importance of regular medical check-ups, ideally monthly visits with hematologists, and the need to inform doctors of their condition before undergoing any medical procedure.

Despite notable progress, she acknowledged that significant challenges remain, particularly in rural communities where access to trained specialists and treatment remains scarce.

Mr. Jayah concluded by explaining that hemophilia is an inherited condition, passed genetically from parents to their children.

 “If the father carries the disease, it can be transmitted to the mother, and if the mother possesses it, it can be inherited by the daughter,” he explained.

The Safe Motherhood and Hemophilia Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to improving healthcare for hemophilia patients across The Gambia and ensuring that no one is left behind due to geography or lack of awareness.