About Us

What We Do:

The Africa Watch is dedicated to covering news and analysis of all matters that concern human rights and incidental concerns such as international criminal and humanitarian law. We collect and republish stories from across the content, as well as provide some legal analysis with two major goals:

Ensuring that human rights situations are brought to the consciousness of all Africans
Ensuring that all Africans acquire a greater awareness of their rights under the African human right system

Why We Do It:

Despite advancements made in the development of human rights in Africa, such as the entry into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the subsequent creation of several African Judicial bodies such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and so on, human rights abuses continue unabated across the African continent.

We believe that one of the reasons for this is the fact that human rights situations from around the continent are seldom published in the mainstream media. We hope to act as an agent of change, helping to ensure that human rights abuses are brought to mainstream awareness, making it harder for abusers to get away with their violations.

Our Values:

Human Rights First

In pursuit of our grand vision, we aim to promote the rights crystalized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as those expressed within the Bill of Rights of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Objectivity

At all times, we remain non-politically aligned. We do not promote any religion or political ideology, or any other sectarian views and beliefs.

Inclusiveness

We open our doors to all humans who share our values. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity or nationality or race, sexual orientation, or any other paradigm.

Our Team:

Musa Sarjo

Deputy Editor in Chief

Musa Sarjo holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and a Barrister-at-law from the University of The Gambia and Gambia Law School, respectively. As a former participant in the 2018 and 2019 ICC Moot Court Competition editions held in the Hague, The Netherlands, Mr. Sarjo is passionate about global justice, international criminal law, and human rights.

He previously worked with the Gambia Truth Commission (TRRC) and, subsequently, with the Truth Reconciliation and National Unity Commission of the Republic of Seychelles as a Research Assistant, where he assisted the TRNUC’s investigation into human rights violations perpetrated during the 40-year-long dictatorship of former President Albert Rene of Seychelles.

As a legal researcher, Mr. Sarjo has authored journal articles on the Gambia’s transitional justice process. His 44-page research paper on ‘The Jammeh alleged atrocities: prospects of prosecution by the ICC’ examined the possible prosecution of former Gambian President Jammeh and explored alternative prosecution schemes such as an internationalized or hybrid court.

Sarifina Easmon

Staff Analyst

Sarifina Easmon began her legal career as a legal intern at Macauley Bangura & Co. before moving to the Gambia in 2020. In the Gambia, she was privileged to work with the Women’s Association for Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE), a human rights organization that advocates for vulnerable groups.

At WAVE, she carried out extensive desk research in response to the UN working group recommendations to The Gambia and was part of the outreach team during the screening of a documentary video for victims of human rights violations.

She spent the rest of her time in the Gambia as a legal intern at the Institute for Human Rights and Development (IHRDA), where she learned and developed skills in HR litigation. Sarifina is currently a lawyer in active litigation in Sierra Leone, where she continues to be involved in a number of human rights endeavors.

Momodou Manneh

Staff Analyst

Momodou Manneh is a lawyer, analytical legal researcher, legal compliance activist and a creative writer. He works with the National Water and Electricity Company Ltd (NAWEC) as a legal compliance specialist. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB Hons) from the University of the Gambia and a Barrister at Law (BL) degree from the Gambia Law School. He was a former legal intern at the Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Right.

In 2019, he participated in and won an international essay competition organized by Lawyers for Economic Advancement and Development (Lex:Lead). Impressed with his masterpiece, the American Bar Association (ABA) invited him to deliver a virtual presentation on the work of the Gambia’s Truth Commission (Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, TRRC), which would later be published as an article by the (ABA). He is a published author with the American Bar Association’s Section on International Law.

David Abraham

Founder and Editor in Chief

David Abraham is a passionate and dedicated human rights advocate. An alumnus of the University of The Gambia, he represented the institution at several international moot court competitions, developing a deep passion for human rights and criminal justice reform in Africa.

David spent six months as a legal intern at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, where he contributed to advancing the Commission’s mandate of protecting human rights across the continent. He is currently a criminal justice lawyer and continues his human rights advocacy through Africa Watch.