AGP Executive Report

Electricity & Public Order: Gambia’s police chief Seedy Mukhtar Touray banned all protests without permits after days of unrest linked to prolonged blackouts, warning crowds not to “converge” or “cause havoc,” with tear gas used and 11 people arrested over vandalism that hit NAWEC branches. Energy Costs for Industry: MPs urged lower power costs for Salaam Cement, saying unreliable and expensive electricity is raising cement prices; the plant relies on generators and pays commercial tariffs. Telecom Investment: The US Export-Import Bank is set to lend about $99.6m to Africell to expand “trusted” telecom infrastructure, with Africell operating in Angola, DR Congo, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. Agriculture & Climate Risk: Gambian rice farmers near the Bintang Bolong estuary are rethinking saltwater protection as seawater intrusion and uncertain rainfall damage fields, pushing communities inland. Ports & Infrastructure: Sanyang Development Fund wants the Gambia Ports Authority to pause deep sea port work, demanding disclosure of maps and compensation details. Youth & Stability: NPP Student Wing leader Yusuf Tunkara urged youths to protest peacefully over electricity failures, warning that violence only worsens hardship.

Electricity & Protest Crackdown: Gambia’s police chief Seedy Mukhtar Touray banned all public protests without permits after days of unrest over prolonged power cuts, including tear gas use, vandalism, and reports of detainees being unlawfully released; authorities say 11 people were arrested. Power Costs for Industry: MPs urged lower electricity and utility charges for Salaam Cement, saying unreliable, costly power is pushing up cement prices; the firm says it relies on generators and pays commercial tariffs. Telecom Investment Push: The US Export-Import Bank is set to lend about $99.6m to Africell to expand American tech in Africa; Africell operates in Angola, DR Congo, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. Maritime & Ports: Sanyang Development Fund and local leaders demanded a pause and more transparency on the proposed Deep Sea Port, asking for maps, site plans, and clearer compensation. Agriculture & Climate Stress: Farmers along the Bintang Bolong estuary are rethinking rice protection as saltwater advances, with communities shifting inland and debating dike approaches. Energy-Driven Business Risk: Tourism stakeholders warned that blackout-linked generator costs and maintenance are hurting hotels and restaurants, calling for financing to support solar and storage.

Electricity Crisis Protests: Thousands of Gambians staged fresh candlelight and street protests in Banjul and nearby areas over rolling power cuts blamed on surging demand and reduced imports, with police tear-gassing demonstrators and reports of fires and road blockages; Government Response: President Adama Barrow urged calm, called the crisis a national security emergency, and pledged improvements by end of October—an extra 24MW generator and a 50MW solar plant—while NAWEC asked for patience and pointed to regional grid constraints; Business Impact: Tourism and other businesses are being hit hard by unreliable power, pushing costs up as operators rely on generators and struggle to finance solar upgrades; Maritime/Infrastructure Watch: Sanyang Development Fund demanded a halt to Deep Sea Port activities, asking for published maps, clearer land boundaries, and fair compensation before work continues. Agri/Health Note: A regional study flags high rates of acute pesticide poisoning among farmers, with The Gambia among the affected countries.

Electricity Crisis Hits Industry Hard: Gambians in Banjul, Kanifing, Brikama and Brufut staged candlelight protests and street unrest over rolling blackouts lasting up to 48 hours, with police using tear gas as crowds marched toward NAWEC and State House. Government Response: President Adama Barrow urged calm, called the situation a national security emergency, and pledged power improvements by end-October, including an extra 24MW generator and a 50MW solar plant, while NAWEC pointed to record demand and reduced regional imports. Tourism & Business Impact: A tourism-focused call says unreliable power is driving hotels to run costly generators and that a dedicated green energy financing facility is needed to help businesses switch to solar and storage. Maritime Infrastructure Tension: The Sanyang Development Fund demanded a halt to Deep Sea Port activities, asking the Ministry of Works and the Gambia Ports Authority to disclose port maps/site plans and ensure fair compensation. Coastal Farming Pressure: Farmers along the Bintang Bolong estuary are rethinking how to protect rice fields as saltwater advances. Construction Spotlight: PaviFort was praised for work on The Gambia’s 50KM Urban Roads Project in Brufut. Energy Policy Context: Senegal’s licensing push puts 109 oil and gas blocks on the market, underscoring regional momentum in hydrocarbons. Sports & Logistics Note: AFCON 2027 qualifiers are ramping up, with Ghana’s camp facing key matches against Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia.

Electricity Crisis in Focus: Gambians in Banjul, Kanifing, Brikama and Brufut staged candlelight protests and violent demonstrations over rolling blackouts lasting up to 48 hours, with police firing tear gas as crowds chanted “Barrow must go.” Government Response: President Adama Barrow urged calm and said the outages are a “national security emergency,” pledging a 24-megawatt generator by end-October and a 50-megawatt solar plant in Soma, while NAWEC blamed surging demand, reduced hydropower and constraints on imports. Local Accountability: Residents and officials also pointed to NAWEC scrutiny after a National Audit Office special audit flagged procurement and internal control weaknesses. Infrastructure & Industry: Sierra Leone’s PaviFort won praise in The Gambia for road works in Brufut, tied to the 50KM Urban Roads Project funded via the OIC. Maritime Finance (Regional): West Africa’s shipping stakeholders urged faster Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund disbursement to unlock indigenous vessel ownership and skills development.

Electricity Crisis in The Gambia: Violent protests over rolling blackouts in Banjul and nearby areas escalated this week, with police using tear gas as crowds burned tyres and marched on NAWEC. President Adama Barrow urged calm and promised a quick fix: a 24-megawatt generator by end-October and a 50-megawatt solar plant in Soma, while NAWEC blamed demand surges, reduced regional imports, climate impacts and equipment failures. Maritime & Shipping Finance: West African stakeholders pushed for faster disbursement of Nigeria’s Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, noting only 20 of 92 applications had reached banks—an issue for regional shipping capacity and local vessel ownership. Offshore Exploration Outlook: Smaller West African states without major oil production are ramping up deepwater exploration marketing new terms to attract investment. Energy & Industry Context: Africa50 said it aims to more than double infrastructure investment to at least $20bn over five years, with a focus on power generation and transmission. Gambia-Senegal Border History: NCAC clarified that Gambia’s colonial-era boundary pillars date to 1904–1905, helping ongoing demarcation work.

Electricity Crisis & Protests: Gambia President Adama Barrow urged calm after violent blackout protests in Banjul and nearby areas, where demonstrators burned tyres, blocked roads and police used tear gas near NAWEC headquarters. Power Infrastructure: Barrow called the outages a “national security issue” and said a new 24-megawatt generation unit will be commissioned by end-October 2026, alongside a contracted 50-megawatt solar plant in Soma to improve long-term supply. Regional Industry Context: The crisis is hitting households during the hot season, with outages reported up to 48 hours, and NAWEC citing surging demand and constraints on electricity imports. Energy Investment Pipeline: Separately, Africa50 said it aims to more than double the value of its infrastructure projects to at least $20bn over the next five years, targeting power generation and transmission—an angle that matters for Gambia’s power-reliability push. Maritime/Trade Watch: A separate report notes Gambia-flagged shipping has been caught up in wider tanker enforcement actions, underscoring how regional logistics can be affected by global energy and sanctions dynamics.

Power Crisis in Banjul: Protests in The Gambia escalated as rolling blackouts worsened, with demonstrators burning tyres and clashing with police near NAWEC; President Adama Barrow called the outages an emergency and said he will address the nation. Infrastructure Push: Africa50 says it wants to more than double the value of its infrastructure projects to at least $20bn over the next five years, targeting power generation and transmission gaps. Clean Air Warning: A new Africa Air Quality Brief reports that more than 20 African countries failed WHO air pollution guidelines in 2025, urging better air-quality data for policy action. Border Sovereignty: A minister admitted a Gambian government facility was built on Senegalese territory, raising questions on surveying, approvals and border management. Maritime Skills: Ghana’s Maritime Authority opened regional training to strengthen seafarer assessment and certification standards, with The Gambia among participants. Agribusiness Pressure: Farmers in rural areas welcomed fertilizer support but want earlier delivery and lower prices; meanwhile, the Philippines imposed an FMD-related import ban that includes Gambia. Energy Governance: Transcorp Power appointed Maryam Shehu as an independent non-executive director, adding deep energy-sector governance experience.

Maritime Skills & Safety: The Ghana Maritime Authority opened a one-week regional familiarisation on assessment, examination and certification of seafarers, bringing together assessors and training institutions from Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Cape Verde and The Gambia to strengthen standards for safer global shipping. Urban Infrastructure: President Adama Barrow inaugurated components of The Gambia’s 50-kilometre Urban Roads Project, calling it a long-term investment that will improve mobility and the movement of goods and services well beyond the 2024 OIC Summit. Digital Economy Push: EFF-Gambia leader Prince Ebrahim Sanyang unveiled plans to make broadband an “economic right,” set up tech hubs across regions, and digitise government services to boost innovation and fight corruption. Energy & Upstream Partnerships: Oando Energy Resources urged closer collaboration among governments, regulators, operators and host communities to unlock investment and accelerate Africa’s upstream oil and gas growth, citing the need for relationships beyond regulatory compliance. Gambia-Region Business Links: Tourism operators from Senegal visited The Gambia via the Tourism Board and Ministry of Tourism to build partnerships—while commentators warn familiarisation tours must translate into joint packages and measurable tourist growth.

Public Health & Trade: Africa CDC says “genital theft” rumours have triggered deadly outbreaks across parts of Africa, highlighting how misinformation can quickly become an industry and livelihoods risk. Transport & Connectivity: Gateway Air launched daily Abuja–Lagos–Ogun flights to speed access to Ogun’s industrial corridor, while Gambia’s maritime sector pushes for stronger seafarer assessment and certification standards to keep trade moving safely. Infrastructure & Urban Growth: President Barrow inaugurated parts of the 50-km Urban Roads Project, calling it long-term investment that will improve mobility and the movement of goods and services. Energy & Investment Climate: Oando Energy Resources urged closer partnerships between regulators, operators and host communities to unlock upstream oil and gas investment; Transcorp Power appointed Maryam Shehu to its board. Agriculture & Biosecurity: Philippines imposed an FMD-linked import ban that includes Gambia among affected countries, reinforcing the need for tighter livestock controls. Regional Integration: ECOWAS installed Senegal’s Birame Diop as Commission President, with connectivity and the Eco among key priorities. Youth & Digital Economy: EFF-Gambia leader Prince Sanyang pitched broadband as an economic right and region-wide tech hubs to drive jobs and innovation. Business & Markets: Nigeria’s stock trading hit record levels, led by major brokers—an indicator of investor appetite across West Africa.

UAE Manufacturing Push: ROX has started local vehicle production in Abu Dhabi, with its first ADAMAS models rolling off an AI-backed plant in KEZAD and targeting 20,000 vehicles in 2027, scaling to 300,000 annually by 2030—supporting “Made in the Emirates” exports. Maritime Skills & Safety: The Ghana Maritime Authority called for tougher seafarer assessment and certification standards, running a one-week regional training with Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Cape Verde and The Gambia to strengthen competency checks. Livestock & Trade Controls: The Philippines imposed a temporary ban on importing FMD-susceptible animals and related products from at least 23 countries, including The Gambia, citing laboratory-confirmed outbreaks. Gambia Energy Costs: Fuel pump prices in The Gambia rose, with petrol set at D109.80/litre, diesel at D120/litre and kerosene at D112.64/litre, blamed on higher international crude and refined product prices. Digital & Innovation Agenda: EFF-Gambia leader Prince Ebrahim Sanyang unveiled plans to build a digital economy—affordable broadband, regional tech hubs, and digitised government services. Connectivity Infrastructure: Sanyang Beachside Road was inaugurated to boost coastal trade, tourism and access, linked to future deep-sea port development. Higher Education Financing: The Students Revolving Loan Scheme opens applications on September 15 for interest-free tuition support via an online platform.

Fuel Prices Rise in The Gambia: The government approved new retail pump prices effective Sept. 1, setting petrol at D109.80/litre, diesel at D120/litre and kerosene at D112.64/litre, citing higher international crude and refined product costs and Middle East instability. Livestock Import Curbs: The Philippines moved to ban FMD-susceptible animals and related products from at least 23 countries, including The Gambia, after lab-confirmed outbreaks reported to WOAH. Maritime Skills Push: The Ghana Maritime Authority called for stronger seafarer assessment and certification standards, using a one-week regional training with Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Cape Verde and The Gambia to improve competency checks. Digital Economy Agenda: EFF-Gambia leader Prince Ebrahim Sanyang unveiled plans to build a digital powerhouse, including broadband as an economic right, regional tech hubs for youth, and digitised government services. Connectivity Boost: Sanyang Beachside Road was inaugurated to strengthen coastal connectivity and support future trade and tourism, including links tied to the planned deep-sea port. Higher Education Funding: The Students Revolving Loan Scheme opens applications Sept. 15 for interest-free tuition financing for eligible students at public universities. Business & Trade Links: President Barrow concluded a visit to Guinea focused on cooperation across agriculture, trade, energy, fisheries, tourism and science/technology. Maritime Leadership Change (Regional): ECOWAS installed Senegal’s Birame Diop as Commission President, inheriting priorities like regional connectivity and the Eco single currency.

Fuel & Energy: The Gambia approved new retail pump prices effective Sept. 1, with petrol at D109.80/litre, diesel at D120/litre and kerosene at D112.64/litre, citing higher international crude and refined product costs. Agriculture & Biosecurity: The Philippines imposed a temporary ban on FMD-susceptible animals and related products from 23 countries, including The Gambia, after lab-confirmed outbreaks reported to WOAH. Maritime Standards: The Ghana Maritime Authority called for stronger seafarer assessment and certification standards, with a one-week regional training involving The Gambia and others to improve competency for global shipping. Transport & Infrastructure: Sanyang Beachside Road (EPC Lot 9) was inaugurated to boost coastal connectivity and support future trade and tourism, including links to the planned deep-sea port. Education & Innovation: MoHERST advanced a new National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP 2027–2035) and STI Bill 2026, targeting better financing, coordination and a national research fund. Youth & Finance: The Students Revolving Loan Scheme opens online Sept. 15 for interest-free tuition support for eligible students at four public universities. Digital Economy Politics: EFF-Gambia leader Prince Ebrahim Sanyang unveiled plans to treat broadband as an economic right, build regional tech hubs, and digitise government services to cut corruption. Regional Business & Trade: President Adama Barrow concluded a Guinea visit, reaffirming cooperation in agriculture, trade, energy, fisheries, education and science/technology. Maritime Safety & Skills: Maritime Authority calls for stronger seafarer standards, echoing the push for better certification across West Africa.

Children & Media: Fye Network and Q Group are publishing The Story of Muhammed Jah: From Little Ideas, Big Things Grow, with a plan to distribute 10,000 copies across all seven Gambia regions under the Q Read Initiative. Maritime Standards: The Ghana Maritime Authority called for stronger seafarer assessment and certification standards, with regional training including The Gambia to improve safety and competency. Livestock & Trade Risk: The Philippines imposed a temporary ban on FMD-susceptible animals and related products from 23 countries, including The Gambia, citing lab-confirmed outbreaks. Roads & Coastal Economy: Sanyang Beachside Road was inaugurated to boost coastal connectivity and support future trade and tourism plans, including the deep-sea port corridor. Higher Education Financing: The Students Revolving Loan Scheme opens online applications on September 15 for interest-free tuition support for eligible students at four public universities. Science & Innovation Policy: MoHERST advanced a draft National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP 2027–2035) and STI Bill 2026, targeting better financing, coordination, and digital/cybersecurity priorities. Markets Regulation: A bill to regulate and manage Gambia’s markets passed first reading and is set for committee review in the September session.

Livestock & Food Safety: The Philippines has ordered a temporary ban on importing FMD-susceptible animals and related products from at least 23 countries, including The Gambia, after lab-confirmed foot-and-mouth disease reports. Energy Costs: The Gambia approved new retail fuel pump prices effective Sept. 1, with petrol at D109.80/litre, diesel at D120/litre and kerosene at D112.64/litre, citing higher international crude and refined product prices. Transport & Trade: Sanyang Beachside Road (EPC Lot 9) was inaugurated to boost coastal connectivity, support the planned deep-sea port, and unlock trade, tourism and investment. Higher Education Financing: The Students Revolving Loan Scheme opens online applications on Sept. 15 (deadline Sept. 30) for interest-free tuition loans for students at UTG, CSU, UEG and USET. Science & Innovation Policy: MoHERST advanced a draft National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2027–2035 and an STI Bill 2026, aiming to fix past gaps via better funding, coordination and an STI Secretariat. Markets Regulation: A bill to create a comprehensive law regulating Gambia’s markets has passed First Reading and heads to committee for the September session.

Livestock & Trade Controls: The Philippines has ordered a temporary ban on importing FMD-susceptible animals and related products from at least 23 countries, including Gambia, after lab-confirmed foot-and-mouth disease reports. Digital Government & Identity: Gabon is looking to Rwanda for help building a digital government ecosystem, including online public services, civil registration and identity, AI policy, and cybersecurity. Digital Economy Push in The Gambia: EFF-Gambia leader Prince Ebrahim Sanyang says broadband should be treated as an economic right, with tech hubs in every region and full digitisation of government services to cut corruption. Regional Diplomacy for Industry: President Adama Barrow concluded a visit to Guinea focused on cooperation across agriculture, trade, energy, fisheries, tourism, science and technology. ECOWAS Leadership Change: Senegal’s Birame Diop has taken over as President of the ECOWAS Commission, inheriting priorities like connectivity and the Eco single currency. Energy Costs: The Gambia approved new retail fuel pump prices, with petrol at D109.80/litre and diesel at D120/litre, citing higher international crude and refined product prices. Transport & Connectivity: Sanyang Beachside Road was inaugurated to boost coastal access and support future trade links, including the planned deep-sea port. Higher Education Financing: The Students Revolving Loan Scheme opens applications on September 15 for interest-free tuition support via an online platform. Science & Innovation Policy: MoHERST advanced a draft National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP 2027–2035) and an STI Bill 2026 to strengthen research, innovation, and university-industry collaboration. Markets Regulation: A bill to regulate and manage Gambia’s markets has passed first reading and is set for committee consideration in the September session. Ports & Power Integration: West Africa is expanding cross-border electricity links (4,000km+) to widen access, while ports are urged to cut waiting times through better coordination.