Students at a top university in The Gambia have staged protests to draw attention to what they describe as severe transport shortages, inadequate campus facilities and growing safety concerns that are making it difficult for many to attend classes.
Under the banner "Survival of the fittest," demonstrators highlighted a range of problems that they say hamper daily life on campus and undermine the quality of their education. Protesters carried placards and marched to press for urgent improvements to campus infrastructure and reliable transportation links to and from the institution.
Students said the transport shortfalls force many to arrive late or miss lectures altogether, while poor facilities — including overcrowded classrooms and insufficient learning resources — impede their studies. Safety concerns on and around campus were also a central grievance, with participants calling for better security measures to protect the student body.
The demonstrations have underscored broader worries about the barriers prospective and current students face when trying to access higher education. Protesters called on university administrators and government authorities to engage with them and to develop a clear plan to resolve the problems affecting the campus.
Organisers said they would continue their actions until they see concrete commitments. The protests are part of an escalating effort by students to use public demonstrations to force a dialogue on infrastructure, transport and safety issues that, according to them, have long been neglected.