Ebrima Mbaye

Story: In July 2025, I reported on the alarming situation of children in Jarra Soma, The Gambia, who, under the guise of pursuing Islamic education in the Dara system, were instead left to beg on the streets for survival. These children, often from rural Gambia or neighboring Senegal, were sent by their parents to study the Qur’an but found themselves exploited by marabouts, religious teachers, who neglected their welfare. This practice, intended to nurture spiritual growth, had instead become a mechanism for abuse, stripping these children of their childhood and exposing them to economic exploitation.

Published in: October 15, 2025