Thoughts, observations, and perspectives on The Gambia and beyond.

The environmental destruction of our inheritance must stop

18 September 2026 By Dr. Omar Janneh I cannot put this more clearly than this: an environmental disaster is unfolding in my village, and unless urgent action is taken, the consequences could become increasingly difficult, and eventually impossible for us to reverse. It is my view that we cannot and

United to transform: When politics fails, reinvent government

7 September 2026 By Dr. Omar Janneh The reader must bear with me for placing these first as they form the basis of the arguments contained in this write-up. Unlike the turncoat-in-chief/memory-deficient and corrupt incumbent, the Gambia’s opposition parties and movements appear to be

The Gambia’s opposition is at a crossroads: Principle, pragmatism and the price of disunity

24 August 2026 By Dr. Omar Janneh It is an understatement to say that The Gambia needs a better political culture and political leadership that is clean, competent, pragmatic, accountable, and committed to integrity and zero tolerance for corruption, underpinned by capable civil service and strong institutions. From my perspective,

The president protected, The Gambia exposed: Cost of complacency and ineffective leadership

24 July 2026 By Dr. Omar Janneh A state has a fundamental responsibility of safeguarding sovereignty, maintaining peace and stability, and protecting its citizens. By these measures, I believe I have good grounds to judge the Barrow administration's record a failure. On 16 July 2026, Senegalese security forces,

Guarding the guardian: Electoral integrity cannot be left to the IEC alone

22 July 2026 By Dr. Omar Janneh An inaccurate voters' register undermines the foundation of a credible election, which brews up trouble, creating fertile ground for disputes, and instability. However, safeguarding the integrity of the voters’ register is not the responsibility of the IEC alone, yet it must act

A credible election begins with a credible voter register; the IEC must demonstrably renew its commitment to fulfilling its statutory duty

22 July 2026 By Dr. Omar Janneh There is considerable truth in the saying that elections are won or lost long before polling day. This observation reflects the importance of maintaining the integrity of every stage of the electoral process, particularly voter registration. An accurate voter register is at the

Safeguarding The Gambia’s electoral integrity requires more than addressing the irregularities in the voter register

15 July 2026 By Dr. Omar Janneh Public confidence in the electoral system depends on transparency, accountability and the consistent application of electoral laws free from political influence or overreach. Safeguarding and maintaining the integrity of the voters' register is a statutory responsibility of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)

Barrow’s pen approves almost everything, except the constitutional limits on his own power

13 July 2026 By Dr. Omar Janneh Adama Barrow appears to have mastered a rare political art: the ability to commission everything, approve everything, and inaugurate everything while, ironically, avoiding personal responsibility for anything. Barrow seems to have an insatiable desire to approve everything- that advances his political interests, yet

An expensive lesson in constitutional law: Constitutional violation costs the Gambian taxpayer millions of dalasis

10 July 2026 By Dr. Omar Janneh The Barrow Administration’s removal of the Auditor General, Mr. Modou Ceesay was a deliberate attack on the constitutional independence of an office created to hold government accountable. The judgment sends a clear message that constitutional protections are not optional and cannot be

The Gambia’s failure to protect its daughters

18 August 2025 By Dr. Omar Janneh The recent death of a one-month-old baby girl following female genital mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia has reignited outrage. However, just as in the past tragedies, this one may soon be forgotten amid inaction/silence and or sadly, be replaced by

A case of harm and death for culture: Betrayal of a nation that seems unfit to protect its daughters

18 August 2025 By Dr. Omar Janneh  The death of a one-month-old baby girl in The Gambia because of female genital mutilation (FGM) has reignited public outrage. However, a bitter experience suggests that this grief will soon fade into another unaddressed tragedy. Despite the country’s 2015 ban

Judiciary reform alone cannot fix land disputes

12 August 2025 By Dr. Omar Janneh The origins of land ownership may be debated, but in The Gambia today, the consequences of lack of appropriate safeguards are clear: our land is in crisis. Our land is crying beneath our feet. Therefore, if we are to build a just and