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On this International Day of Democracy, the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) reaffirms its commitment to promoting democratic values and human rights across the continent. However, we express deep concern over the widespread violations of human rights that continue to undermine democratic principles. Civil liberties are increasingly under threat, with significant crackdowns on freedom of assembly, association, opinion and expression. Many organizations that advocate for human rights face dissolution, while numerous activists are detained for exercising their fundamental rights. This suppression of dissent creates an environment where fear prevails over open discourse and civic engagement. The situation is exacerbated by ongoing incidents of torture and arbitrary arrests in some countries including some North African countries, which highlight a troubling disregard for the rule of law. Vulnerable populations, including migrants, often face discrimination an

The first encounter was between Black Star and Bonto Kuta on Tuesday the 10th of September at 3 pm. Both teams displayed their soccer skills overwhelmingly, battling the rainfall. Unluckily for Bonto Kuta, they lost the match. The game ended 1-0 in favor of the Black Star Football Club. Meanwhile Tungina United won their first match of the tournament against Kaira-Kunda which was played at 5 pm. Both enthusiastic fans cheered the players during both matches. Players manifested utmost interest in the tournament and rainsfall wasn’t an obstacle. Last week, The Chief of Kombo East, Bakary Sanyang presided over the unveiling of the Bell Bottling Company’s juice drinks, the draw for the tournament as well as the presentation of Footballs, cups, and T-shirts to the eight participating teams(Jola Kunda, NEMA, Sitako, Bonto Koto, Bonto Kuta, Black Star, Tungina and Kaira Kunda.) The tournament continues next Tuesday the 17th of September at Kuloro.

  Over the past years, It has become customary of the police to insult, harass and above all to act indecent against civilians in the country. Few days ago, I was at a public institution in a nearby restaurant. I saw security officers from the Gambia Police Force (GPF) having a seminar. They gathered in droves, including the IGP and the top rank-and-files of the police force. At my vantage point, I heard one officer yelling to a waiter, telling him why he is frequently passing without serving him food. The officer was not properly seated in the right place where food was served. An old adage says, a starving man will forgo his self-interest only to get food. Another officer came into the restaurant, and rudely asked for milk. Then another one also bumped in with an incongruent tone of emotion, telling waiters to quickly serve the IG without any delay.  The modus operandi of the police towards civilians, bring to my recollection the police brutality under the ruthless hands of the exile

    Mr. Omar Conteh the Advocacy Communication officer of RAID-The Gambia, spoke of his organization’s commitment to launch a vigorous campaign against the consumption of Trans Fatty Acid Foods. He called on the Gambian government to formulate a policy framework to protect the population. Mr. Konteh made this appeal while delivering their findings on The Gambia’s Trans-Fatty Acid Foods landscape. The forum brought together members of the Association of Health Journalists in The Gambia. He noted that some of the Trans-Fatty Acid Foods landscape findings included a lack of specific policy and regulatory framework. Existing policies such as the Non-Communicable Disease Policy, National Nutrition Policy, and Food Safety Policy do not adequately address Trans-Fatty Acid Foods. Sally Jarju, The President of the Association of Health Journalists, encouraged his colleagues to take the initiative seriously and report on the issues in their various media houses. He assured RAID-The Gambia that

     Team Outpost  The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliaments on Thursday, 29th August 2024, convened a National Youth Dialogue at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo. The delocalized meeting of the joint committee on Trade, Customs and free movement and social affairs, Gender Women empowerment and persons with disabilities and Legal Affairs and Human rights, Political affairs, peace, Security and African peer review mechanism (APRM), which was themed: "Parliament's role in the implementation of the protocol on the free movement of persons, rights of residence and establishment in the ECOWAS region." The youth dialogue tagged amalgamating youth forks under one umbrella for peace and nation-building within the ECOWAS member countries. On her part, Veronica Kadie Sesay, co-chair from Freetown who doubles as the Chairwoman of the Committee on Social Affairs, Gender and Women empowerment, said the number of migrants d

Team Outpost  On August 28, 2024, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament held its first-ever Free movement in action meeting at the Amdalie Karang border with officials and security personnel. This landmark event aimed to better understand the realities of implementing the protocol for the free movement of people, goods, and services. The fourth day of this significant engagement saw a focused discussion between border officials and security personnel from both sides of the Amdalie and Karang borders between The Gambia and Senegal. This cross-border convergence provided ECOWAS Parliament with a unique opportunity to engage local communities and stakeholders on the importance of the free movement protocol within the ECOWAS region, addressing both challenges and opportunities. Senator Melville Snow Jnr of Liberia, Chairman of the ECOWAS Parliament's Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security, and African Peer Review Mechanism, led the engagement. He em