Reacting To The Honour, Dr Baldeh Shared Her Heartfelt Appreciation:

“Thank You So Much To TIME For This Generous Recognition. I Was Stunned When I Heard The News. I Am Honoured To Be Listed Among Such Extraordinary Company And I Am Dedicating This Moment To The Incredible Women And Girls Of The Gambia. They Are The Real Icons Here.”

Dr Fatou Baldeh’s Journey Is One Of Courage, Resilience, And Unwavering Dedication To Gender Justice. A Survivor Of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), She Has Transformed Her Personal Experience Into A Global Mission To End Sexual And Gender-based Violence (SGBV). As A Leading Human Rights Activist, She Continues To Fight For A World Where Every Woman And Girl Can Live Free From Harm And Discrimination.

After Earning A Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology And Health From The University Of Wolverhampton And A Master’s In Sexual And Reproductive Health From Queen Margaret University In Edinburgh, Dr Baldeh Returned To The Gambia In 2018. There, She Founded Women In Liberation And Leadership (WILL), A Transformative Organisation Working To Protect The Rights And Uplift The Voices Of Women Across The Country.

Her Impact Extends Far Beyond National Borders. Dr Baldeh’s Global Recognition Includes Receiving The Member Of The Order Of The British Empire (MBE) In 2020 For Her Work With Migrant Women In Scotland. In 2024, She Was Honored With The U.S. State Department’s International Women Of Courage Award And The Geneva Summit Women’s Rights Award. In Early 2025, She Was Celebrated As One Of TIME’s Women Of The Year, And Former U.S. President Barack Obama Publicly Acknowledged Her Work To End FGM On International Women’s Dayan Accolade Echoed By Michelle Obama As Well. Harvard University Also Listed Her Among The 25 Extraordinary Women In The World, Joining Names Such As Iceland’s President And Philanthropist Melinda French Gates.

Beyond Her Activism, Dr Baldeh Continues To Break Ground In Global Health. She Is Currently Pursuing A PhD At Canterbury Christ Church University And Serves As A Research Fellow At The Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia At The London School Of Hygiene And Tropical Medicine. She Also Holds An Honorary Doctorate From The University Of Wolverhampton.

Despite Her Busy Professional Life, Dr Baldeh Remains Grounded In Her Personal Values As A Devoted Wife And Mother Of Four Boys. Her Legacy Is Not Just One Of Awards And Accolades, But Of Real, Lasting Change For Generations Of Women And Girls Around The World.

At The Conclusion Of The Discussions, Ms. Jenkner Issued The Following Statement:

“Economic Activity Is Strengthening. Growth Is Estimated At 6 Percent For 2024, Supported By Tourism And Construction Sectors. Tourist Arrivals Continued To Recover, Reaching A Level Close To The Pre-pandemic Peak Levels. Remittance Inflows Also Strengthened. Inflation Declined To A Single Digit (9.1 Percent) In March While Remaining Above The Central Bank’s Medium-term Objective Of 5 Percent.

“The Authorities Remain Committed To Meeting The Program’s Targets And Structural Reforms Agenda, Albeit With Some Delays. Quantitative Objectives Under The ECF-supported Program Have Been Largely Met. All Seven Quantitative Performance Criteria But One (ceiling On Net Domestic Borrowing) And All Quantitative Indicative Targets Were Met. Also, Progress Was Made On Significant Structural Benchmarks Relative To Public Procurement, The Management Of State-owned Enterprises (SOEs), Expansion Of The Social Registry, And Improved Budgeting. The Public Debt-to-GDP Ratio Remains On A Downward Trajectory. The Authorities Are Committed To Maintaining Fiscal Responsibility In 2025 And In The Medium Term To Be Able To Respond To The Gambia’s Large Social And Developmental Needs In A Sustainable Manner.

“The Central Bank Of The Gambia (CBG) Is Committed To Keeping Inflation On A Firm Downwards Trajectory And Meeting Its Medium-term Objective. It Will Also Remain Vigilant To Ensure A Market-determined Exchange Rate, And A Smooth Functioning Of The Foreign Exchange Market Supported Bya Policy That Limits Any Foreign Exchange Market Interventions To Only Alleviate Excess Market Volatility. Considering The Elevated Non-performing Loans, The CBG Is Determined To Strengthen Financial Sector Resilience To Future Shocks. Focusing On Its Core Mandate, The CBG Will Preserve A Strong Financial Position.

“Following The Publication Of Its Governance Diagnostic Roadmap In December, The Government Is Strengthening Its Reform Agenda On Governance And Anti-corruption, Improved Public Service Delivery, Public Access To Financial And Legal Information, And An Enhanced Business Environment To Encourage Private Sector-led Investment And Growth.

“To Enhance Long-term Macroeconomic Stability And Resilience To Climate Change While Boosting Policy Space And Reducing Fossil Fuel Externalities, The Proposed RSF Arrangement, Subject To Approval By The IMF Executive Board, Would Contribute To The Effective Implementation Of The Country’s Climate Agenda. Reform Measures Will Cover Five Areas: The Institutional Framework, Green Public Financial Management, Climate Data And Green Financial Sector, Enhancing Adaptation And Resilience, And The Energy Transition. These Reforms Are Expected To Catalyze Financing For Climate And Sustainable Development And Will Be Supported By Capacity Development Activities From The IMF And The Gambia’s Other Partners.

“The IMF Will Continue To Work Closely With The Gambian Authorities And Stands Ready To Help Them Through Financing, Policy Advice, And Strong Technical Assistance.”

The Mission Met With The Minister Of Finance And Economic Affairs, Seedy Keita; Attorney General And Minister Of Justice Dwada Jallow; Minister Of Public Service, Administrative Reforms And Policy Baboucarr Bouy; Governor Of The Central Bank Of The Gambia Buah Saidy; Commissioner General Of The Gambia Revenue Authority Yankuba Darboe; National Auditor General Modou Ceesay; Chairman Of The SOE Commission Ousainou Ngum; And Senior Government And Central Bank Officials. The Mission Team Also Had Fruitful Discussions With Representatives Of The Private Sector, Civil Society, And Development Partners.

According To Captain Ibrahima Sow, Director Of Information And Public Relations Of The Armed Forces (DIRPA), The Operation Was Part Of A Larger Military Response Initiated By Zone 5 Command, With Troops From The 22nd BRA, To Track Down The Perpetrators Of The April 13 Attacks.

“During The Course Of The Operation, A Military Detachment Was Taken To Task By An Armed Group,” Captain Sow Confirmed In An Official Press Release. He Reported One Soldier Injured And Another Unaccounted For. “All The Necessary Means Are Being Deployed To Locate The Missing Soldier,” The Statement Added, Noting That Operations Are Ongoing To Secure The Population And Their Property.

The Military Operation That Led To The Ambush Was Part Of An Effort To Restore Calm In Djignaki, Where Local Residents Reported Attacks By Unidentified Armed Men Over The Weekend. These Attacks Have Reportedly Instilled Fear Among Villagers, Many Of Whom Rely On Farming And Cross-border Trade For Their Livelihoods.

The Confrontation Highlights The Enduring Security Challenges In Casamance, A Southern Region Of Senegal That Has Been The Site Of One Of Africa’s Longest-running Separatist Conflicts. For More Than Four Decades, Rebel Factions Of The Movement Of Democratic Forces Of Casamance (MFDC) Have Waged An Intermittent Armed Struggle For Independence From The Senegalese State.

Though Peace Efforts In Recent Years Have Reduced The Frequency Of Clashes, Pockets Of MFDC Fighters Still Maintain A Presence, Particularly In The Dense Forests And Rural Communities Near The Gambian And Guinea-Bissau Borders. These Areas, Including Bignona And Its Surroundings, Remain Volatile And Are Often Affected By Criminal Activity Attributed To Rogue Armed Elements And Splinter Groups Operating Under The Guise Of Rebellion.

Security Sources Have Not Officially Linked The Latest Ambush To The MFDC. However, Analysts Suggest That The Terrain And Tactics Employed — Including Hit-and-run Attacks And Ambushes — Are Consistent With Those Historically Used By Rebel Fighters In The Region.

The Senegalese Army Has Pledged To Continue Its Operations In The Area Until The Attackers Are Neutralized And The Region Is Stabilized.

As Of Thursday Morning, The Search For The Missing Soldier Continues. Authorities Are Urging Residents In The Area To Cooperate With The Security Forces And Report Any Suspicious Activity.

The Government Has Not Disclosed The Identity Of The Missing Or Injured Soldiers, Nor Has It Confirmed Whether Additional Reinforcements Will Be Deployed In The Coming Days.

The Incident Comes Amid Renewed Concerns Over The Re-emergence Of Organized Armed Groups In Casamance. While Some MFDC Factions Have Signed Ceasefires Or Disarmed In Recent Years, Others Remain Active And Resistant To Integration Into The National Peace Process. Reports Of Banditry, Arms Trafficking, And Landmine-related Accidents Persist, Complicating Efforts At Long-term Development And Reconciliation.

Observers Warn That Unless A Comprehensive Peace Agreement Is Fully Implemented And Accompanied By Meaningful Local Investment, Sporadic Violence And Instability Could Continue To Plague The Region. (Source Gambia Journal)