Headlines

Vandalism, arson & looting occur as Gambians protest blackout in Greater Banjul

Thousands of Gambians poured onto the streets on Monday night in a wave of anger and defiance, protesting what they described as the relentless and crippling power outages that have plagued the nation. The unrest, which ignited in the capital city of Banjul, quickly spread across the Greater Banjul Area (GBA), engulfing Westfield, Tabokoto, Brikama, Busumbala, Bakau, Brufut and beyond. The message was stark and unified: “Bring back our lights – enough is enough.”

Sep 9, 2026 • Momodou Jawo & Isatou Ceesay Bah

Barrow assures 24/7 electricity supply by end October

President Adama Barrow has assured Gambians that the country's electricity crisis will be resolved by the end of October, promising uninterrupted power supply as Government moves to address growing public frustration over persistent outages across the Greater Banjul Area. The President's assurance came after widespread blackouts triggered protests in several communities, prompting him to undertake a day-long visit to the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) power stations in Brikama and Kotu to assess the situation firsthand and receive briefings on the challenges affecting electricity generation and distribution.

Sep 9, 2026 • Marie E. Chery

MPs demand deadline for gov’t to activate parole system

Members of the National Assembly have urged government to set a clear deadline for making The Gambia’s parole system operational, warning that leaving its implementation open‑ended risks undermining justice reform. The call came during debate on the Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill 2026, which seeks to delay the operation of Section 258 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2025 until facilities required for parole are established.

Sep 9, 2026 • Jankey Ceesay

Gambia launches $12M CLIMB project to strengthen urban climate resilience

Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow on Tuesday presided over the official launch of the Climate‑Resilient Banjul: Enhancing Urban Resilience in the Greater Banjul Area (CLIMB) Project at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre. The ceremony brought together Cabinet Ministers, representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), members of the diplomatic corps, heads of UN agencies and international organisations, as well as local government officials.

Sep 9, 2026 • Ismaila Sonko

Gambia opens new chapter in digital growth with nine-digit numbering system

The successful migration to a nine-digit national numbering system is expected to provide the capacity needed to support The Gambia’s expanding digital economy, with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) describing the development as a major step towards strengthening the nation’s digital future. Addressing a press conference at PURA’s headquarters over the weekend, Director General Njogu L. Bah said the move should be viewed as far more than a simple change in telephone number formats, describing it as a strategic response to the rapid growth of the country’s telecommunications sector and wider digital ecosystem.

Sep 9, 2026 • Makutu Manneh

NDMA tests flood response readiness in major disaster simulation

The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) on Saturday led a large-scale simulation exercise aimed at testing the country's preparedness and institutional capacity to respond effectively to flood-related disasters. The exercise, conducted on 5 September 2026 along the Latrikunda German-Kotu Stream, simulated a flood emergency involving drowning incidents and the collapse of a building affecting five households.

Sep 9, 2026 • Adama Jallow

Former envoys seek bigger role in shaping Gambia’s diplomacy

Former Gambian ambassadors and retired senior diplomatic executives have declared that their retirement from active service will not mark the end of their contribution to nation-building, as they move to establish the country's first Association of Former Ambassadors and Retired Senior Diplomatic Executives. The initiative, unveiled during an inaugural meeting held on Tuesday, aims to bring together former ambassadors and senior diplomatic officials to preserve institutional memory, support foreign service reforms and make their wealth of experience available to the country's diplomatic corps.

Sep 9, 2026 • Makutu Manneh

NPP: Power challenges must not be allowed to undermine peace, national progress

Press release The ruling National People's Party (NPP) has acknowledged the hardship caused by recent electricity outages across The Gambia, while urging citizens to reject vandalism, looting and the destruction of public infrastructure as frustrations mount over the ongoing power crisis.

Sep 9, 2026

Bensouda promises death penalty, NAWEC privatisation if elected

With less than five months to go before the much‑anticipated 2026 presidential election, Talib Ahmed Bensouda — standard‑bearer of Coalition 2026 — has issued his boldest pledge yet. Addressing thousands of electrified supporters at Brikama SSP, Bensouda vowed to introduce the death penalty and privatise the nation’s National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) if entrusted with power in December.

Sep 8, 2026 • Jankey Ceesay

Revising Court: Barrow’s nephew named in ‘voter card dispute’ as UDP agent testifies

The Revising Court at Kanifing yesterday heard dramatic testimony from a United Democratic Party (UDP) agent who alleged that President Adama Barrow’s nephew, Amadou Sanneh, assisted an applicant to obtain a voter’s card. Amie Sankanu, who served as a UDP agent during the last supplementary voter registration in Kololi, told the court that Sanneh accompanied one Ablie Bah to the registration centre and presented his documents to officials of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Sep 8, 2026 • Dawda Faye

Niamey Convention ratified: Gambia moves to strengthen regional ties

The Gambia has ratified the African Union Convention on Cross‑Border Cooperation, known as the Niamey Convention (2014), paving the way for stronger collaboration with neighbouring countries in trade, security, infrastructure and development.

Sep 8, 2026 • Jankey Ceesay

Minister confirms GPA exit from cargo handling under new deal

The Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) is no longer directly involved in cargo handling at the Port of Banjul under the government’s concession agreement, Transport Minister Ebrima Sillah has told the National Assembly. Presenting his ministry’s response to the Public Enterprises Committee’s consolidated report on the SSHFC Special Audit and GPA’s follow‑up performance audit, Sillah clarified that GPA’s role is now primarily regulatory, with cargo operations transferred to the concessionaire.

Sep 8, 2026 • Jankey Ceesay

NAWEC power projects reach 91.87% completion despite delays – Minister Juwara

Major electricity projects being implemented by the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) have reached 91.87 percent completion, despite delays linked to resettlement, contractor performance and other implementation challenges, the Minister for Water, Energy and Natural Resources, Nani Juwara, told the National Assembly on Monday.

Sep 8, 2026 • Jankey Ceesay

GPF announces ‘unprecedented promotion’ of nearly 4,000 officers

In a move described as unprecedented in the history of the Gambia Police Force (GPF), the institution has promoted close to 4,000 officers ranging from Police Constable to Assistant Superintendent of Police. The mass promotion, announced yesterday, show the promotion of a total number 3,618 officers. The promotion has been hailed as a landmark decision recognising the commitment and dedication of officers across the ranks. Many observers credit the development to the leadership of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Seedy Murtar Touray, whose stewardship has been praised for prioritising junior officers long overlooked in past exercises.

Sep 8, 2026

Gov’t to introduce ‘special court’ as land cases surge – Minister Bah

Land disputes account for nearly two‑thirds of all cases before Gambian courts, Lands Minister Hamat N.K. Bah has revealed, warning that unresolved property conflicts pose a grave threat to social stability.

Sep 8, 2026 • Ismaila Sonko

Power‑sharing rift splits opposition coalition

The All Peoples Party – Sobeyaa (APP‑Sobeyaa) has dramatically withdrawn from the APEX Coalition negotiations after failing to secure consensus on what it described as a previously settled power‑sharing arrangement.

Sep 8, 2026 • Ismaila Sonko

GTBank opens new Brikama Branch

Guaranty Trust Bank Gambia Limited (GTBank) on Monday unveiled its new purpose‑built Brikama branch in a colourful ceremony at Brikama Daruharu, opposite Jah Oil Fuel Station along the Trans‑Gambia Highway.

Sep 8, 2026 • Sheriff Janko

Jammeh denies role in destabilizing Gambia

Former President Yahya Jammeh has released another audio statement, denying any role in destabilizing The Gambia and accusing the administration of misleading the international partners, and mismanaging the country’s oil resources.

Sep 7, 2026