AGP Executive Report

Presidency and Infrastructure: President Adama Barrow returned to Banjul after a 10-day provincial tour, praising the completed 200km Kabada roads and promising electricity for remaining communities in Lower River Region. Border Cooperation: The Gambia and Senegal launched community outreach on border-marker work, stressing it will clarify the existing boundary, not redraw it or take people’s land. Regional boundary officials also met in Banjul to advance cross-border cooperation. Football: The Scorpions’ 4-2 win over Ghana left the Black Stars bottom of their AFCON qualifying group; Ghanaian football officials are now facing calls to account for the team’s poor start. Regional Justice: Gambian Justice Awa Bah was sworn in as one of five new ECOWAS Community Court judges, with the bloc’s chair urging impartiality. US Visas: Routine visa services have shifted from the US Embassy in Banjul to regional processing hubs under a State Department change that took effect in August.

Infrastructure: President Adama Barrow praised the completed 200km Kabada roads project and promised electricity for the remaining communities in Lower River Region, as he continued his tour ahead of December’s election. Regional Justice: Gambian Justice Awa Bah was sworn in as one of five new ECOWAS Court judges, with the bloc’s chair urging impartiality and public trust. Border Communities: The Gambia and Senegal have begun explaining their border densification exercise, stressing it clarifies the existing boundary and does not redraw it or take community land. Power Supply: The government has received 21MW of generators from China as it responds to the country’s electricity crisis. International Justice: Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay is an ad hoc judge in the International Court of Justice case in which The Gambia accuses Myanmar of genocide against the Rohingya.

Border Management: The Gambia and Senegal have begun explaining their border-densification exercise to communities, stressing it clarifies the existing boundary and will not take land from residents. At a regional meeting in Banjul, boundary officials from eight West African countries also called for faster boundary work and stronger cooperation. International Justice: South African jurist Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize for promoting international law. She is an ad hoc judge in the genocide case The Gambia brought against Myanmar. Election Watch: President Adama Barrow predicts opposition leader Ousainou Darboe will lose December’s presidential election, while a UDP diaspora chairman has called Darboe the best-placed candidate. Public Services and Migration: The Gambia received a consignment of medicines and medical supplies, while more than 80 Senegalese nationals were intercepted in the country amid irregular migration.

Border Relations: The Gambia and Senegal have begun a campaign to explain their border-densification exercise, stressing it will clarify the existing boundary—not create a new one or take land from communities. Regional Cooperation: Banjul hosted West African boundary officials from eight countries, who called for stronger coordination and dialogue to resolve border challenges. US Visas: Routine visa services at the US mission in Banjul have been redirected to regional hubs; the change affects processing, not the embassy’s operating status. International Justice: South African jurist Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing international law. She is an ad hoc judge in The Gambia’s case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice. Power Supply: The government has received 21MW of generators from China as it seeks to ease crippling power cuts.

International Justice: Navi Pillay has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting international law. The former UN human rights chief is also an ad hoc judge in The Gambia’s case against Myanmar over alleged genocide. Scorpions: The Gambia climbed seven places to 109th in the latest FIFA rankings, rising to 25th in Africa. Migration: Authorities intercepted more than 80 Senegalese nationals in The Gambia over irregular migration. Election Watch: Political groups are pressing the IEC to release the supplementary voter register, with the UDP questioning a reported gap of 28,932 voters. Health: The country has received a consignment of medicines and medical supplies.

International Justice: Navi Pillay’s Nobel Peace Prize has a direct Gambian link: she serves as an ad hoc judge in The Gambia’s genocide case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice. Election 2026: President Adama Barrow predicts a heavy defeat for UDP leader Ousainou Darboe, while Darboe’s supporters are rallying behind his bid ahead of December’s vote. Border Security: Immigration officials and civil society groups are working on standards to strengthen professionalism and accountability at the country’s borders. Girls’ Rights: UNICEF is urging stronger action against child marriage. Rates have fallen nationally, but 43% of rural women were married before 18, rising above 54% in Kuntaur. Scorpions: The Gambia climbed seven places to 109th in FIFA’s latest world rankings, and rose to 25th in Africa.

Election Watch: With The Gambia’s December 5 presidential vote approaching, President Adama Barrow cast the contest as a choice between continuity and change. UDP leader Ousainou Darboe questioned the fairness of past elections, while Mai Ahmed Fatty was flagged over remarks urging people to shun the UDP. Regional Affairs: Authorities have scheduled Gambia-Senegal boundary sensitisation for Friday. Football: The Scorpions’ 4-2 comeback win over Ghana remains a major talking point; coach Jonathan McKinstry said the team had prepared its game plan weeks ahead. Ghana has since parted ways with coach Carlos Queiroz and is seeking a successor. Power Supply: The government says 21MW of generators from China are part of its response to crippling power cuts. Justice and Accountability: The ECOWAS Court adopted a settlement in the case over Mahawa Cham’s disappearance. Separately, the Gambia Reparations Commission says $2.5 million in proceeds from a Yahya Jammeh property sale in the United States has yet to arrive. Public Health: GRA chief Yankuba Darboe says tobacco taxes should be judged by their effect on smoking and health, as well as revenue; the excise tax has risen to D45 per pack.

Election Watch: With the December 5 vote approaching, President Adama Barrow framed it as a choice between continuing his development programme and starting afresh. UDP leader Ousainou Darboe questioned the fairness of past elections, while a media monitor warned that Mai Ahmed Fatty’s call to shun the UDP could inflame political tensions. Scorpions’ Success: Coach Jonathan McKinstry says The Gambia’s staff prepared the plan for their historic 4-2 win over Ghana in Accra three weeks before the match. Power and Public Health: The government says new 21MW generators from China are part of its response to crippling power cuts. At a national health meeting, GRA chief Yankuba Darboe said tobacco taxes should be judged by their impact on smoking and lives saved, not revenue alone. Accountability: The Reparations Commission says $2.5 million from the sale of Yahya Jammeh’s US property has yet to arrive. Youth and Climate: Seven Gambian athletes will compete in five sports at the Dakar Youth Olympics, while The Gambia is among nine countries set to benefit from a new UN-backed Great Green Wall restoration programme.

Power Relief: The Gambia has received 21MW of generators from China as the government responds to severe power cuts. TRRC Accountability: The Justice Ministry says a Special Accountability Mechanism is needed to turn TRRC findings into court-ready cases while protecting defendants’ rights. Separately, the ECOWAS Court adopted a settlement requiring the government to investigate Mahawa Cham’s killing, compensate his family and return his remains. Jammeh-era Reparations: The Reparations Commission says the $2.5 million proceeds from the sale of Yahya Jammeh’s US property have yet to arrive. Election Watch: A coalition is urging the IEC to release the supplementary voter register for public checks ahead of December’s presidential election. Regional Role: Gambian judge Awa Bah has joined the ECOWAS Court, while Banjul hosts a regional meeting on border cooperation. Climate: The Gambia is among nine countries sharing a $78 million programme to restore degraded land and support livelihoods along Africa’s Great Green Wall.

Election Watch: The Coalition of Progressive Gambians is urging the IEC to publish the supplementary voter register for public checks ahead of the December 5 presidential election, warning that delays could undermine confidence in the vote. Transitional Justice: The ECOWAS Court has adopted a settlement committing The Gambia to investigate Mahawa Cham’s disappearance and killing, prosecute those responsible, compensate his family and return his remains. The government has also explained why a special mechanism is needed to prosecute crimes documented by the TRRC. Regional Role: Former Supreme Court judge Awa Bah has been sworn in as a judge of the ECOWAS Court for a four-year term. Banjul is also hosting the bloc’s annual meeting of national boundary commissions. Power and Health: The government says new generators are part of its response to crippling power cuts. Health officials are validating a national dementia plan for 2027–2031, focusing on awareness, diagnosis and support for families. Football: The Scorpions are among eight teams to win their opening two matches in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, while Ghana’s poor start has pushed the Black Stars down to 70th in FIFA’s latest rankings.

ECOWAS Justice: The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice swore in five new judges in Abuja, including Justice Awa Bah of The Gambia and Charlyne M. Brumskine of Liberia, with ECOWAS chair Bassirou Diomaye Faye urging impartial, independent decisions to rebuild public trust. Power Crisis Response: The Gambia received two 10.5MW generators from China in Banjul, with a third unit expected soon, as government pushes to end crippling blackouts and expand installed capacity. Diplomacy & Development: The Gambia assumed the UN LDC chairmanship of the Global Coordination Bureau for a three-year term, with Ambassador Lamin B. Dibba leading, a role that could shape priorities for least developed countries. Education: The Gambia Teachers’ Union called for higher education funding, timely release of education budgets, better teacher allowances, and the long-awaited Teacher Service Commission. Football Talk (Regional): Ghana’s Mohammed Polo rejected calls to withdraw from AFCON qualifiers, while debate continues over coaching readiness and GFA governance after Ghana’s poor start. Sports (Gambia-linked): A Gambian official is set to serve as reserve assistant referee for Ghana’s Beach Soccer AFCON qualifier in Nigeria.

ECOWAS Justice: The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has sworn in five new judges, including Gambian Justice Awa Bah, for four-year non-renewable terms, with Senegal’s Bassirou Faye urging impartiality and protection of citizens’ rights. UN Diplomacy: The Gambia has taken up a three-year UN role as chair of the Group of Least Developed Countries’ Global Coordination Bureau, led by Ambassador Lamin B. Dibba. Power Supply: VP Muhammed B.S. Jallow says two new generators have arrived at Banjul port, as government pushes to stabilise electricity and prevent a repeat of recent outages. Reparations Update: The Gambia Reparations Commission says it has not yet received $2.507m from the sale of Yahya Jammeh’s Potomac property, though transfer steps are ongoing. Education & Teachers: The Gambia Teachers’ Union calls for higher education funding, better teacher allowances, and the long-awaited Teacher Service Commission. Culture & Community: Ebunjan Theatre pays tribute to late Olivia Gillen, highlighting her lasting impact on Gambian arts. Sports (Gambia-linked): A Gambian official, Omar Kebbeh, is set as reserve assistant referee for Ghana vs Nigeria beach soccer AFCON qualifiers in Kaduna. Diaspora/Regional Mobility: A report lists Banjul among overseas UTME centres and notes growing debate over JAMB’s planned Ottawa centre. Business/Recognition: Waste to Wonder Worldwide receives the UK King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainability 2026.

Power Supply Relief: The Gambia has received two new mega-generators with a combined 21MW capacity to ease crippling electricity blackouts, with installation and commissioning expected by month-end. Digital Government: A two-day workshop in Banjul trains officials on the Digital Duty Waiver Application System, moving duty waiver processing onto the SmartPort platform to improve efficiency and transparency. Elections & Governance: The UDP says the IEC must explain a 28,932-voter discrepancy in supplementary voter registration figures, urging clarification to protect confidence in the voters’ register. Justice Process: The Gambia’s Special Prosecutor outlines an evidence-based strategy for TRRC-related prosecutions, focusing on fair trials and different modes of liability. Sports (Regional): While Ghana’s Black Stars coaching search and AFCON qualifier fallout dominate headlines, Gambian football also gets CAF appointments: officials named for beach soccer and WAFU U-20 AFCON qualifiers in Mali. Media Credibility: Gambian fact-checking leader Rabiu Alhassan is elected to the board of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).

Digital Government: The Gambia has started a two-day training workshop on the Digital Duty Waiver Application System in Banjul, with MoFEA, the GRA and the Gambia National Single Window rolling out duty waivers through the SmartPort platform to improve efficiency and transparency. Elections & Accountability: The UDP says the IEC’s supplementary voter registration figures don’t match its received dataset, pointing to a 28,932-voter discrepancy and calling for clarification to protect confidence in the voters’ register. Justice & Human Rights: Special Prosecutor Martin Hackett says his TRRC-related prosecutions will follow an evidence-based approach, while a UN expert on extrajudicial executions is set to visit The Gambia from 5–16 October to assess protections for the right to life. Sports (Gambia-linked): CAF has appointed three Gambian officials for beach soccer and WAFU-A U-20 AFCON qualifiers in Mali, giving local refereeing a continental boost. Public Safety: A Basse magistrate sentenced Omar Jallow to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for raping a 19-year-old, ordering D500,000 compensation to the victim.

Gambia-Region Politics: Political parties in The Gambia are raising fresh concerns about the Electoral Commission, calling for more transparency and full data sharing to ensure upcoming elections are fair and credible. Sports (Ghana/Black Stars): Ghana’s Black Stars crisis continues to spill into wider debates: the GFA says it fully accepts responsibility for the poor AFCON 2027 qualifying start, after Carlos Queiroz left by mutual consent citing major infrastructure problems, including the lack of a dedicated training camp and training at the same venue as matches. Football Governance: Calls to dissolve Ghana’s FA are being resisted by former Black Stars management figures, who warn FIFA rules could be breached; meanwhile, a five-member committee chaired by Fred Pappoe is tasked with finding a new head coach. Regional Peace & Sport: The Gambia was ranked 4th safest in Africa in the Global Peace Index 2025, and the Gambia Volleyball Federation received CAVB recognition for its contribution to African volleyball.

Gambia in focus: The Gambia’s shock 4-2 win over Ghana’s Black Stars has reignited calls for football governance reform across the region, with Ghana’s Sports Ministry and GFA moving to restructure national team management after Carlos Queiroz’s exit. Ghana football shake-up: A five-member committee chaired by Fred Pappoe is tasked with finding a new Black Stars coach by Oct. 9, while critics including King Faisal owner Alhaji Karim Grusah have demanded GFA President Kurt Okraku resign. ECOWAS elections: ECOWAS says it will deploy youth observers alongside traditional missions for Nigeria’s 2027 polls, and also plans similar youth observation for The Gambia’s December elections. Education rights: UAE Education Minister Sarah Al Amiri joined a Geneva event on girls’ right to education, co-sponsored by The Gambia, urging access to safe, quality schooling for every girl. Business/tech: HubPharm Africa won an ECOWAS startup prize of $30,000, beating finalists including Baykart from The Gambia.