Illegal Activities Thrive in The Gambia

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A recent investigation has uncovered a complex web of illegal activities in The Gambia, including:

Illegal Mining and Fishing Practices: Foreign-owned fish processing plants are operating along the coastline near the Senegal border, exporting illegally caught fish to Vietnam and re-labeling it for re-export to China.
Timber Trafficking: Asian firms involved in illicit timber business have made The Gambia a hub for their operations, with reports of Senegalese soldiers being involved in the direct transit of illegally stolen timber from Casamance to end markets in China.
Drug Trafficking: The country has become a safe haven for drug traffickers and other criminal networks from neighboring countries.

Corruption and Money Laundering

Many private companies, including mining firms, engage in fraudulent arrangements with state officials to combine their legal activities with illegal ones. This has led to:

Money Laundering: A significant concern, particularly in the Serekunda and Senegambia regions, where hotels and restaurants are used as fronts for illicit activities.

Governance and Leadership

The Gambia has undergone a political transition since 2016, but governance across state institutions remains flawed. This is due to:

Limited Progress in Reducing Corruption: Allegations against government officials are common, and the country lacks an anticorruption commission.
Lack of Effective Governance: Bribes and kickbacks are still prevalent.

Cybersecurity Risks

The absence of cybercrime legislation renders the country’s cyberspace vulnerable to attacks, posing risks to its digital integrity.

While efforts have been made to increase protection measures for victims of organized crime, support and protection remains limited due to a lack of resources. The government has established:

Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations: A shelter for vulnerable individuals, but more needs to be done.

Economic and Financial Environment

The Gambia has taken steps to combat money laundering and financial crime, but enforcement capacity remains weak. This is due to:

Weak Enforcement Capacity: The economic regulatory environment requires significant improvement.
Limited Progress in Combating Money Laundering: Despite recent reforms aimed at streamlining business registration and addressing key obstacles, tangible results are yet to be seen.

NGOs have played a vital role in challenging restrictive laws and securing favorable judgments in the ECOWAS Court. However, there is still:

Potential Hurdle: The requirement for NGOs to register with authorities poses a potential hurdle.
Remnants of Past Practices: Privately-owned media stations were closed in the past.

Call to Action

The Gambia must address these pressing issues to prevent further erosion of its reputation and economy. Strengthening governance, combating corruption, and improving cybersecurity are critical steps towards creating a more stable and prosperous future for the country’s citizens.