Residents of Salagi have voiced their deep frustration and heartbreak following the sudden demolition of their homes and compounds by government authorities.
Many of the affected residents claim the exercise was carried out without adequate consultation or due process, leaving them devastated and displaced. According to them, they had followed all necessary legal procedures prior to construction, including obtaining approvals from the Department of Physical Planning, the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Ministry of Justice.
Eyewitnesses said the demolition team was accompanied by armed soldiers and arrived without notice, immediately beginning to tear down structures.
Bakary Manjang, whose brother’s house was among those demolished, said they had done everything by the book.
“We obtained all the necessary documents and received approval from Physical Planning. Now, they’re telling us a different story,” he said.
He explained that their construction had been ongoing for over five years and had reached an advanced stage. His brother had even purchased materials for continued work.
“Then suddenly, while I was at work during Ramadan, my brother called to tell me the house had been demolished. I was devastated. It felt like watching your hard-earned money go up in flames. The same people who gave us permission to build are now saying we weren’t supposed to build there,” he lamented.
Manjang criticized the lack of communication from the authorities, stating, “What should have been done first—engaging with us—was done last. Before touching someone’s property, at the very least, talk to them. We’re all human beings. We would have listened.”
Another affected resident, Oumie Suwaneh, recounted a similar experience. She said that on March 25, while she was at the market, her younger sister informed her that four armed soldiers and two civilians had visited their compound with a demolition notice.
“Then on Friday, I went to the market again and received a call that they had come to demolish our fence. My sister told them we weren’t home, but they went ahead and destroyed it anyway. They even damaged our tap and water meter—now we struggle just to get water,” she said.
Suwaneh said her husband purchased the land over five years ago, and no one—government or otherwise—had ever contested their ownership.
“After spending thousands of Dalasi, waking up one day to see everything gone is truly painful,” she added.
Amadou Darboe, another victim, expressed deep disappointment over the handling of the demolitions. He explained that the notice was not personally handed to him but to his nephews, and initially, the document lacked a name or signature.
“The official later filled in my name and signed the notice right in front of my house,” he said.
Darboe noted that the notice was delivered on March 25, 2024, but the demolition occurred just three days later, on March 28, despite the demolition vehicles stating action would begin on April 1.
“Even if you have the authority, there’s a proper way to exercise it. No one would build a home without legal rights or inheritance,” he stressed.
He called for greater transparency and fairness in such actions, emphasizing that all citizens deserve equal treatment under the law.
“The government should create a fair system that protects everyone, not use power to destroy people’s homes without consultation or dialogue,” Darboe said.
He urged authorities to act swiftly and justly, pointing out that many families have lost millions of Dalasi in property and investments.
“I know how much I personally invested. Watching it destroyed like that was heartbreaking,” he concluded.