Gambia: Where Religion Once Served a Repressive Regime, Gambia's Clergy Seek Redemption

Gambia: Where Religion Once Served a Repressive Regime, Gambia's Clergy Seek Redemption

For decades faith in The Gambia was weaponised -- not as a source of healing, but as a tool of political control. Under Yahya Jammeh's authoritarian rule, mosques and churches became less places of worship and more instruments of state propaganda. Jammeh compelled Gambians to follow his religious directives or face arrest and prosecution.

Where Religion Once Served a Repressive Regime, Gambia’s Clergy Seek Redemption – Foroyaa Newspaper

By Yankuba Jallow with New Narratives For decades faith in The Gambia was weaponised — not as a source of healing, but as a tool of political control. Under Yahya Jammeh’s authoritarian rule, mosques and churches became less places of worship and more instruments of state propaganda. Jammeh compelled Gambians to follow his religious directives or face arrest and prosecution.  Islamic leaders, seeking to appease the president, publicly praised hi…