As Victims Cry Foul Over ‘Selective Justice’
By Assan Bah
The Gambia Government, through the Department of Physical Planning and Housing under the Ministry of Lands, has begun a demolition exercise targeting alleged encroachments in the Salagi Layout, West Coast Region.
The move, announced in a statement dated April 7, 2025, follows an investigation by the Gambia Police Force, which reportedly confirmed unauthorized developments within the area.
According to the department, the encroachments include the illegal sale of residential plots by private individuals, the occupation of public spaces demarcated for specific purposes, and the blockage of access roads within the layout.
However, the demolitions have sparked controversy, with victims accusing the government of unfair treatment and a lack of transparency. Some residents claim they inherited the land from their parents and were unaware that it was considered state-owned property.
A statement from the Ministry reads: “After numerous complaints lodged to the Ministry of Lands by allottees about the illegal developments of their allocated plots and public space reserves by other individuals, coupled with several interventions made by the Ministry and its line departments to curb the encroachments, the Ministry has now resorted to the undesirous option to demolish all the encroachments and illegal developments within the layout.”
Demolition notices, dated March 25, 2025, were issued to some affected residents. The notices cited violations of the Development Control Regulations of 1995, declaring the buildings or fences erected without permits as unsafe and subject to removal before April 1, 2025. One such notice stated that the violation involved encroachment into public space.
Abdoulie Jatta, one of the affected residents, said he inherited the land from his late parents.
“The Department of Physical Planning & Housing claims this is a government allocation, which is false. We inherited this land and were never compensated,” Jatta said.
He also alleged that despite visiting the Physical Planning office multiple times, he was never issued a permit.
“Even plan clearance was denied,” he claimed.
Ms. Mariama Bojang, another victim, said her unfinished house—almost ready for roofing—was demolished without prior notice.
“I was at the market when my niece called to inform me that my house had been demolished. This is selective justice,” she alleged, adding, “They only selected certain compounds, claiming the area would be used as a praying ground, market, or playground.”
Bojang, a single parent, said she had struggled for four years to build a home for her children.
“No one ever informed me this was a reserved land. I’ve received no compensation and no official letter about this.”
Amadou Darboe also shared his experience, saying he was served a notice on March 25 and given five days to demolish his structure. However, he said officials came for the demolition just three days later.
“They only demolished my fence and left. I’ve lived here for over four years and never received any warning. This was our first and only notice,” Darboe said.
He added that he purchased the land in 2015 from a family that claimed an inheritance.
“Even the person who designed my building works at Physical Planning,” he said, suggesting complicity or at least inconsistency within the department.
In defence of the exercise, the Department explained that the Salagi Layout was established following the acquisition of land in 2001, with allocations made in 2005 for residential purposes. Public spaces were set aside for essential services and infrastructure, including schools, mosques, cemeteries, a community centre, playgrounds, and utilities.
However, the department acknowledged that some of these public spaces were not developed in time by the relevant institutions, leaving them vulnerable to encroachment.
It further stated that the Kenebaring Kabilos, whose lands were acquired for the layout, were to be compensated in accordance with the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act, Cap 57:06 of the Laws of The Gambia.
As demolitions continue, tension remains high among residents, many of whom insist they were kept in the dark and are now being punished for systemic failures in land management and communication. The incident has once again raised questions about land administration, justice, and accountability in The Gambia’s urban development process.
