Fort Bullen, Colonial fort at River Gambia estuary, Gambia.
Fort Bullen is a fortress standing on the banks of the Gambia River, featuring a rectangular layout with four circular bastions and thick brick walls. Cannons are positioned along the riverside to command views of the water passage.
British forces built this fort in 1826 to stop French and Portuguese traders from continuing the illegal slave trade in the region. It represents an early military commitment to enforcing the abolition of slavery in West Africa.
Fort Bullen is one of the sites inscribed in 2003 as "Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites" on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The listing covers the fort, Kunta Kinteh Island and historic buildings in Albreda and Juffureh, and recalls the slave trade, its suppression, colonialism and African resistance. A small museum inside the fort presents this history to visitors.
Fort Bullen can be visited and has a small museum inside covering the fort and the slave trade. The lighthouse in the courtyard is operated by the Gambia Ports Authority and reaches 10 nautical miles. A new private ferry terminal is being built next to the fort from 2024, so expect construction nearby.
During World War II, the 1st Coast Battery reactivated this abandoned fort as a defensive position against potential threats from nearby Senegal. This military role shows how the structure remained strategically important even after losing its original purpose.
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