Gambia: Artist Raises Concern Over Sign on Disputed Land in High Court Litigation

Gambian artist, farmer and historian Rongo has written to President Adama Barrow, raising concerns over a sign bearing the name of the Lamen CDC, which he said was recently placed on land within the jurisdiction of Banjulunding that is the subject of ongoing litigation at the High Court. In a letter dated 18 September 2026, Rongo asked the president to intervene over what he described as an erroneous indication of Lamen CDC on government-related materials placed near the junction beside the airport gate and the Banjulunding Horticultural Garden. Rongo said the land in question forms part of what he describes as his ancestral family's traditional customary lands in Jola Kunda Misranding, which he said falls within the jurisdiction of Banjulunding and not Lamen. He also pointed out that part of the land is currently before the High Court in a case involving himself, Bakary Bojang, also known as Babai, and others, including the Alkalos of Lamen, Makumbaya and Kubariko. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines "I have the most due respect in writing to know about the concerned circumstances of Lamen CDC indicated as reference in the herein attached materials bearing the name of the Republic of The Gambia," Rongo wrote. He said the materials were recently placed at a location he maintains falls within Banjulunding. Rongo also referred to the foundation stone ceremony held by President Barrow on 19 August 2026 for a proposed road project in the area. He said he welcomed the road construction project and praised the government for developing roads in communities across the area. "I was aware of the fact that you on Wednesday the 19th day of August 2026 laid foundation stone for the proposed road construction project on that particular area and I am sincerely happy and grateful of the gesture and effort you the president with Government are doing to construct roads within various parts of local communities," he wrote. He said the road would serve communities including Banjulunding, Kubariko, Makumbaya, Galoya and Kubuneh. However, Rongo said his concern was the reference to Lamen CDC on materials placed in an area he claims falls within Banjulunding. "The only disturbing problem is this development is a portion of the Lamen VDC mistakenly indicated within the materials bearing the Republic of the Gambia and misleadingly placed at a position in the jurisdictions of Banjulunding which is at all not Lamen," he said. Rongo alleged that the situation could create further disputes over the ownership and jurisdiction of the land. He urged whoever created and placed the sign or reference to correct what he described as an error. He said this would help prevent further conflict and avoid the disputed land being used in a manner that could interfere with the ongoing court proceedings. Rongo further said he did not believe President Barrow personally intended to interfere in the matter. He alleged, however, that some people could have used government or party political influence to interfere with the land dispute. "This unfortunate act, in his consciously considered view, seems not to have been the president's personally intended desire of making this conflicting problem," Rongo said in the letter. He said he believed President Barrow respected the independence of the judiciary and would not interfere in matters before the courts. "I have respectfully noticed that the present president is a very peaceful person who respects the independence of justice and you also avoid interfering into the legal matters under the litigation process," he wrote. Rongo therefore urged the president to ensure that the reference to Lamen CDC was corrected. Rongo explained that CDC means Colonial Development Corporation (CDC) and has nothing to do with land ownership. He said the dispute involved his ancestral family's traditional customary lands and was already before the High Court. He identified the parties in the case as including Bakary Bojang,