Summary:
The applicants, inhabitants of Kerr Mot Hali Village in the Central River Region of The Gambia, were forcibly expelled from their ancestral land in January 2009 due to their religious and traditional practices. Their homes were subsequently occupied by others, and they were compelled to flee to neighbouring Senegal.

In March 2017, the High Court of The Gambia ruled in their favour and ordered the immediate restoration of possession of their land. To date, the Government has failed to comply with that order. On 18 May 2020, the applicants filed a case before the African Court challenging the non-enforcement of the domestic judgment. They allege violations of their right to property, their right to an effective remedy, and the State’s obligation to guarantee judicial independence. After the Respondent failed to engage in amicable settlement discussions, the applicants filed for default judgment.