Gambia: Salaji Public Land In Private Hands Sparks Family Dispute

• The Manya Kunda family of Sukuta has fought for over 15 years to reclaim Salaji farmland in The Gambia, questioning how land designated for public purpose ended up in private hands.
• Their grandfather, Ba Seedy Darboe, farmed Nemasu land, which was purchased by his wife, Baraka Bojang, but was lost as 'reserved land' without compensation.
• Kebba Nfamara Darboe, the family patriarch, took the Salaji dispute to the Land Commission, continuing the fight until his death in 2022.
• The Land Commission, chaired by Justice Basiru V.P. Mahoney, determined that while Nemasu was reserved land, Salaji was not.
• Despite the Commission's finding, much of the Salaji land is now occupied by private individuals, with walls and homes constructed, challenging the family's efforts to reclaim their inheritance.

At the heart of their persistent legal and emotional struggle lies a fundamental question: how did land reportedly designated for public use ultimately fall into private ownership?

The Manya Kunda family of Sukuta has been embroiled in a protracted battle for over 15 years, seeking to reclaim their ancestral farmland in Salaji, The Gambia. At the heart of their persistent legal and emotional struggle lies a fundamental question: how did land reportedly designated for public use ultimately fall into private ownership? This ongoing dispute, which began with the loss of land in Nemasu and then escalated with the Salaji property, has become a defining challenge for the family, connecting two distinct locations through a singular, arduous fight for their rights.

This complex Manya Kunda family land dispute Gambia has been championed by successive generations. The late Kebba Nfamara Darboe, who served as the head of the Manya Kunda Kabilo of Sukuta, dedicated his life to this cause until his passing on January 16, 2022. Born in Sukuta in 1952, he left behind a legacy of advocacy, with his eldest son, Abdou Darboe, now continuing the fight. The family firmly asserts that these contested lands represent their rightful inheritance, belonging to the Manya Kunda clan.

Before the current focus on Salaji, the family experienced a similar loss concerning land in Nemasu. Their grandfather, Ba Seedy Darboe, had cultivated this Nemasu plot, measuring 175 by 220 meters, for many years. The family maintains that this land was acquired by Ba Seedy Darboe's wife, Baraka Bojang, a businesswoman, and they consistently paid rates for it. However, they were subsequently informed that the Nemasu land was "reserved," leading to its loss without any compensation, a grievance that persists to this day.

Following this initial setback, the family turned its attention to their farmlands in Salaji. They diligently cleared the bush and prepared the land, intending to divide it among family members. However, in 2010, rumors began circulating that the Salaji land, too, was being classified as "reserved." This development prompted Kebba Nfamara Darboe to escalate the matter, bringing the family's claim before the Land Commission, hoping for a definitive resolution regarding the public purpose land acquisition Gambia.

The Land Commission, chaired by Justice Basiru V.P. Mahoney, undertook a thorough investigation into the family's claims. This process involved comprehensive inquiries, an on-site visit to the disputed land, and the participation of representatives from various Kabilos and clans within Sukuta. The findings of Justice Basiru V.P. Mahoney were pivotal, establishing a clear distinction between the two parcels of land the family had lost.

Crucially, the Commission concluded that while the Nemasu land was indeed reserved, the Salaji land was not. Specifically, the Gambia Land Commission Salaji Nemasu investigation determined that the area stretching from the SBEC International School towards the forest was not designated as reserved land. This decision brought a measure of relief to the Manya Kunda family, who, in 2011, proceeded to demarcate their Salaji farmland, believing their long struggle was nearing an end. However, their hopes were soon challenged by a letter from the Department of Lands and Survey.

Despite the Land Commission's findings, the Manya Kunda family's central question remains unanswered: if the government acquired the Salaji land for a public purpose, how did it subsequently end up in private hands? More than 15 years after the Salaji dispute commenced, the landscape of the land has dramatically transformed. What was once farmland is now extensively occupied, with private individuals having constructed walls, dug foundations, and erected homes across the area.

Documents presented by the family reportedly confirm that the Salaji land was indeed subject to a government notice indicating its requirement for a public purpose. The ongoing occupation by private entities, despite the Land Commission's ruling that the land was not reserved, underscores the complex challenges faced by the Manya Kunda family in asserting their Kebba Nfamara Darboe land rights. Abdou Darboe and his siblings continue their father's fight, grappling with the reality of their ancestral land being developed privately, contrary to its purported public designation, highlighting the critical issue of Gambia Salaji public land private hands.

This case highlights the critical need for lawyers in The Gambia to meticulously scrutinize land acquisition processes, particularly when land designated for public purpose appears to be transferred to private hands. It underscores the importance of understanding the findings of bodies like the Land Commission and advising clients on potential challenges to land titles based on historical public purpose designations and subsequent private occupation.

Source: Original reporting via a local news report.