Gambia

A total of 131 Gambians died in 2026 while attempting irregular migration journeys, primarily at sea, according to Baye Gassama of the Network of Reintegration and Irregular Migration Data (NRIMD), reported to the ECOWAS Parliament.

Salt water from the Atlantic Ocean now intrudes 300 kilometers or more into the Gambia River, causing an agricultural crisis. Ebrima Nyan's farmland has withered due to brackish water, reduced rainfall, and salty soil unfit for crops.

A person from Gambia claimed their father died and they lost their job due to a government ban on tree cutting, leading to a $20 money transfer via a legitimate third party after a video call with their family. The sender's father suspects the interaction is a scam, despite the use of verified platforms and visual evidence.

Africa's wealthiest man Alhaji Aliko Dangote has pledged US$2 billion in a strategic investment partnership with The Gambia. The investment aims to boost the country's economic development.

The Gambia's Supreme Court is set to rule on a ban of female genital mutilation (FGM), causing concern among mothers who fear the law may be weakened.

The High Court in Gambia has expressed concern over a growing surge in knife-related violence among young people, warning that offenders will face the full force of the law as the country addresses escalating deadly street confrontations.

EU member countries agreed to impose visa restrictions on Somali citizens over readmission failures, following similar measures on Gambia and Ethiopia. The EU is overhauling migration policy, including establishing return hubs and deportation legislation.

Abdoulie H. Bojang, father of a student killed during the April 10, 2000 student demonstration in The Gambia, has called on the government to ensure justice and provide reparation for victims. The incident resulted in multiple deaths and permanent disabilities.

Dr. Isatou Touray has announced her candidacy as an independent presidential candidate for the 2026 election in Gambia. She becomes the second female former vice president to join the race after Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang.

President Adama Barrow launched the National People's Party Manifesto, Nine-Point Plan, and new digital platforms, calling the event an important stage in Gambia's democratic journey.

A suspected migrant boat caught fire off the North Bank coast in Gambia, injuring several suspected migrants. A rescue operation was conducted by regional police authorities after the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday at Nuimi Bunyadu.

A controversy emerged in Gambia's National Assembly over a missing $48 million forensic laboratory project announced in 2017, with the Interior Minister stating it could not be traced. A National Assembly Member, Hon. Modou Lamin B. Bah, demanded an investigation into the project's status.

The Gambia and Senegal have signed a series of landmark cooperation agreements covering energy, border management, the digital economy, youth development, technology, culture and tourism, as well as higher education, research, science and technology.

Germany has deported 1,369 Gambians to The Gambia since 2018, with removals increasing sharply over the past three years as German authorities intensify efforts to enforce immigration decisions.

The US military disabled the Gambia-flagged cargo ship Lian Star in the Gulf of Oman after it attempted to breach the US-led maritime blockade on Iran. An American aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the ship's engine room, leaving it adrift.

The U.S. military fired a missile into the engine room of the Gambia-flagged cargo ship Lian Star, which ignored warnings to stop attempting to breach the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. The blockade, initiated on April 17, aims to limit Iran’s shipments and weaken its economy, with six ships now stopped and 116 redirected. A fragile ceasefire remains in place amid ongoing talks to extend it and address Iran’s nuclear program.

The U.S. military fired a missile into the engine room of a Gambia-flagged cargo ship, the Lian Star, after it ignored warnings to stop attempting to breach a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. The action is part of a broader effort to restrict Iran's shipments and pressure its economy, with six ships stopped and 116 redirected since the blockade began on April 17.

The U.S. military disabled the Gambia-flagged Lian Star, a merchant vessel attempting to breach the American blockade of Iranian ports. This marks the sixth such ship stopped, as the blockade began in response to Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. and Israeli strikes. A fragile ceasefire and potential 60-day extension for nuclear program talks remain under consideration.

The U.S. military disabled the Gambia-flagged bulk carrier Lian Star as it attempted to breach the American blockade of Iranian ports, marking the sixth such vessel stopped. The blockade, initiated on April 17, follows Iran's closure of the strait after U.S. and Israeli strikes in late February, with a fragile ceasefire in place since April 7. Global economic strain persists as oil and gas shipments remain disrupted.

Gambia has appointed a British barrister to prosecute crimes committed during ex-President Yahya Jammeh's rule, known for enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Michael Sang Correa, a Gambian national, became the first non-U.S. citizen convicted of torture and was sentenced to 810 months (over 67 years) in prison. He was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit torture and five counts of torture.