AGP Executive Report

GFF Politics & Match Prep: Newly elected Gambia Football Federation president Kemo Ceesay moved to involve former election rivals in AFCON qualifier match operations, appointing Sadibou Kamaso and Col. Musa Jammeh—though Kamaso says he declined a fundraising-linked role due to short notice and missing details, while Jammeh accepted. AFCON Qualifiers Focus: The Scorpions are preparing for a qualifier against Somalia, with Independence Stadium in Bakau receiving preliminary CAF approval for assessment ahead of the fixture. Youth Football Buzz: Gambian U-17 winger Omar Badjie is reportedly drawing interest from Liverpool and Bayern Munich after standout moments at the WAFU Zone A tournament, including an assist versus Sierra Leone. Volleyball Result: The Gambia men’s volleyball team lost 3-1 to defending champions Egypt at the CAVB African Nations Championship in Tunis, after taking the first set 28-26. Sports Development: Gambian women’s midfielder Mariama Saruba Jarju completed a one-year loan from City Girls to Liberian side Ravia Angels to gain experience abroad. Consumer & Competition Law: The National Assembly advanced a new Competition and Consumer Protection Bill to modernise rules, strengthen consumer rights, and curb unfair business practices.

Gambia–Ghana Football Build-Up: The National Sports Authority says Accra Sports Stadium is being kept CAF-ready for a packed 2027 AFCON qualifiers schedule, including Ghana hosting The Gambia in Accra and Niger and Somalia also using the venue as their home ground after CAF clearance. Local Court Case: Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC) has filed for D857,484.80 compensation in Brikama Magistrates’ Court over alleged damage to a bus shelter in a truck accident, after the driver was fined for careless driving. Political Tensions: UDP leader Ousainu Darboe challenged the government to prove who secured major URR road and bridge projects, while Momodou Sabally accused UNITE of fuelling unrest and warned youth against violent protests. Rights for Artists: The National Assembly ratified the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, a move welcomed as a step toward stronger legal protection and fair compensation for Gambian performers. Youth Football: The Gambia’s U-17 Scorplings held Senegal to a 0-0 draw to reach the WAFU-A semi-finals unbeaten.

AFCON 2027 Venue Update: CAF has cleared Ghana’s Accra Sports Stadium for international matches again, after renovations by the National Sports Authority. Ghana will host The Gambia on 27 September, and the venue could also become a regional hub as Niger and Somalia look to use it for their home qualifiers. Somalia’s Request: Somalia has formally asked Ghana’s National Sports Authority to stage its home games at Accra, with Ivory Coast set to visit on 29 September. Ghana Squad Process: Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz has submitted his squad for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, with the GFA expected to announce the final list after internal approvals. Kudus Fitness Watch: Tottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi says Mohammed Kudus is improving but still not at full fitness, while also hinting he could be available depending on how he recovers. Gambia Education Finance: The Gambia is launching its first government-backed Students Revolving Loan Scheme, with the first application window opening 15 September and covering tuition at four public universities.

Electricity & Protests: The Gambia has banned unauthorized protests after days of unrest linked to persistent power blackouts, with police warning that demonstrations without permits will face enforcement action. Sports—AFCON 2027: Ghana’s Accra Sports Stadium has been cleared by CAF for international matches, setting up Ghana vs The Gambia on 27 September; Somalia has also asked to use the same venue for its home qualifiers. Gambian Football: Medina United’s CAF Champions League debut ended in heartbreak as they drew 1-1 with Star Sport Academy but went out on the away-goals rule. Youth & Education: The Gambia launches its first government-backed Students Revolving Loan Scheme, with the first application window opening 15 September for eligible students at four public universities. Sports Administration: FIFA has appointed Gambian football administrator Arret Njie Jah as match commissioner for an Olympic qualifier tie involving Nigeria and Comoros. Community Safety: Police and the armed forces carried out joint vehicle patrols in North Bank communities to boost security and deter crime.

Protest Crackdown: The Gambia has banned protests without permits after days of unrest linked to persistent electricity blackouts, with police reportedly using tear gas as anger spreads ahead of December’s election. Child Labour Focus: The Gender, Children and Social Welfare Ministry says it remains committed to tackling child labour, especially children selling in markets and streets, while noting some children help during school holidays. Opposition Warns on Economy: UDP leader Ousainou Darboe says re-electing President Adama Barrow would further damage the economy, citing alleged mismanagement in health and support for farmers. Tourism Push: Tourism Minister Abdoulie Jobe tells Nigerian stakeholders the Gambia wants more Nigerians to visit for business and leisure, urging partnerships to boost travel. Security Patrols: Police and the armed forces conducted joint vehicle patrols across North Bank communities to strengthen safety and deter crime. Regional Sports Link: Gambia’s electricity crisis and election timing continue to dominate local headlines as sports and regional cooperation stories run alongside.

Protest Crackdown in Gambia: Gambia’s Inspector General of Police Seedy Mukhtar Touray has banned all unauthorised demonstrations, saying nobody can protest without an approved permit after violent unrest linked to prolonged power cuts. Police used tear gas, a police post was vandalised, detainees were unlawfully released, and NAWEC shut three branches after attacks; authorities arrested 11 people over the vandalism. Electricity Anger Ahead of Elections: The unrest has been fuelled by frustration with President Adama Barrow ahead of the December election, with opposition candidate Talib Ahmed Bensouda saying people were driven to the streets by heat and hardship. AFCON 2027 Venue Checks (Ghana): Ghana’s Sports Minister Kofi Adams and NSA DG Yaw Ampofo Ankrah inspected Accra Sports Stadium for CAF readiness ahead of Black Stars qualifiers, including the 29 September match vs The Gambia. Black Stars Squad Process: Ghana’s GFA says Carlos Queiroz has submitted his squad for the Ivory Coast and Gambia qualifiers, with final approval steps underway before invitations go out. Gambia in Regional Sports: A separate report notes Gambia is among countries in the 2028 T20 World Cup Africa sub-regional qualifier lineup.

Power Crisis & Protests: Gambia’s Inspector General of Police Seedy Mukhtar Touray has banned all unauthorised public demonstrations after violent unrest linked to rolling blackouts, saying no one may protest without an approved permit and warning violations will be met with “necessary force”; authorities also reported vandalism, tear gas use, and arrests of 11 people, while NAWEC said it shut three branches after attacks. Elections & Candidate Rules: The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) set Nov. 3–14 for presidential nominations and tightened verification, including proof of support from at least 5,000 registered voters (with minimum signatures per administrative area), stronger checks of voter card numbers, and added requirements like telephone numbers, a sworn assets declaration, and tax clearance. Electricity Costs & Industry: MPs urged lower power and utility costs for Salaam Cement, arguing high electricity charges are pushing up cement prices; the company says unreliable and costly power remains a major challenge and relies on generators. Telecom Investment: US Export-Import Bank approved a $99.6m loan to Africell to buy American and allied network equipment to expand in Angola and compete with Huawei, with Africell also operating in Sierra Leone and The Gambia. Local Culture: A kora music event featuring Sean Gaskell is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Middleboro Public Library. Education Snapshot: A global map shows women lead college enrollment in many countries, with The Gambia listed at an 83% women-vs-men tertiary gap. Sports (Gambia-linked): Gambian midfielder Amara Camara completed a permanent move from Real de Banjul to Swedish top-flight Kalmar FF on a five-year deal.

Power Crisis & Protests: Gambia’s police chief Seedy Mukhtar Touray has banned all unauthorised demonstrations without permits after violent anti-government protests over prolonged blackouts, including tear gas use, vandalism and arrests. Elections Watch: The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has tightened presidential nomination verification ahead of the Dec. 5 vote, setting Nov. 3–14 for nominations and requiring candidates to secure support from at least 5,000 registered voters, with stronger checks on signatures and voter card details. Electricity Costs & Industry: MPs have urged lower power and utility costs for Salaam Cement, saying unreliable and expensive electricity is pushing up cement prices. Cross-Border Security: NACOC’s director-general called for practical cross-border action against synthetic drugs and cocaine trafficking, stressing intelligence sharing and joint operations. Tech & Telecom: The U.S. announced a $99.6m loan to Africell to expand American telecom technology in Africa, including operations in Gambia. Sports (Gambia-linked): Amara Camara has completed a permanent move from Real de Banjul to Swedish top-flight Kalmar FF on a five-year deal.

Power Crisis Crackdown: Gambia’s police chief Seedy Mukhtar Touray has banned all unauthorised protests without permits after days of violent demonstrations over prolonged blackouts, warning anyone who converges or causes havoc “will be met with necessary force.” Authorities say tear gas was used, a police post was vandalised, detainees were unlawfully released, and 11 people were arrested over damage to public infrastructure including NAWEC branches. Election Rules Tightened: The IEC has set Nov. 3–14 for presidential nominations ahead of Dec. 5, requiring candidates to secure support from at least 5,000 registered voters (including 200 signatures per administrative area) and to submit assets and tax documents, with verification strengthened to disqualify breaches. Telecoms and Tech Race: The U.S. announced a $99.6m EXIM loan to Africell to expand American telecom technology in Angola and beyond, with Africell operating in Congo, Sierra Leone and Gambia. Sports (Gambia-linked): Gambian midfielder Amara Camara has completed a permanent move to Sweden’s Kalmar FF on a five-year deal.

Electricity & Protests: Gambia’s police chief Seedy Mukhtar Touray has banned all public demonstrations without permits after violent unrest linked to prolonged power cuts, warning anyone who converges or “causes havoc” at night will face “necessary force.” Authorities say tear gas was used, a police post was vandalised, detainees were unlawfully released, and 11 people were arrested. Elections & Rules: The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) set Nov. 3–14 for presidential nominations for the Dec. 5, 2026 election, tightening signature and voter-card verification and requiring candidates to show support from at least 5,000 registered voters. Telecoms & U.S.-China Rivalry: The U.S. Export-Import Bank approved a $99.6m loan for Africell to expand American telecom technology in Africa, with Africell operating in Angola, DR Congo, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. Local Industry Costs: MPs urged lower power and utility costs for Salaam Cement, saying unreliable electricity and high tariffs are pushing up cement prices. Sports & Talent: Gambian midfielder Amara Camara completed a permanent move to Sweden’s Kalmar FF on a five-year deal.

Electricity Crisis & Protests: Gambia’s police chief Seedy Mukhtar Touray has banned all public protests without permits after days of unrest over prolonged power cuts, warning violators will face “necessary force.” Police say tear gas was used to disperse crowds, a police post was vandalised, detainees were unlawfully released, and 11 people were arrested for vandalism as NAWEC shut three branches after attacks. Election Rules: The IEC says presidential nominations will run Nov. 3–14 for the Dec. 5, 2026 vote, with forms available from Sept. 21 and tighter verification of signatures and voter card numbers. Electricity Costs & Industry: MPs urged lower power costs for Salaam Cement, saying unreliable and costly electricity is pushing up cement prices. International Moves: The U.S. is set to lend about $100m to Africell to expand telecoms using “American and allied” technology, as Washington seeks to counter Huawei’s role in Africa. Sports & Youth: Gambian midfielder Amara Camara has completed a permanent move to Sweden’s Kalmar FF.

Electricity Crisis: Fresh protests erupted in The Gambia over gruelling power cuts, with police tear-gassing demonstrators near Banjul and reports of communities going without power for up to 48 hours, disrupting water, shops and daily life. Political Tensions: As December elections near, calls are growing for a national coalition conference on Sept. 12, while the Justice Minister told lawmakers the government’s policy position is to abolish the death penalty, keeping a moratorium in place. Governance & Security: The Vice President said any withdrawal of ECOMIG forces depends on annual ECOWAS assessments, with no fixed timetable. Sports & Youth: Medina United host Star FC in CAF Champions League preliminaries after a goalless first leg, and the Gambia volleyball team received D10 million ahead of the African Nations Championship in Tunisia. Local Economy & Environment: Gambian farmers along the Bintang Bolong estuary are rethinking how to protect rice fields as saltwater advances. International: A migrant boat drifting off the Canary Islands saw 152 people rescued.

Electricity Crisis Turns Violent: Gambians in Banjul, Kanifing, Farato, Brikama and Brufut took to the streets over blackouts lasting up to 48 hours, burning tyres, blocking roads and clashing with police using tear gas. Presidential Response: President Adama Barrow urged calm, saying citizens can protest but must not destroy public infrastructure, calling the outages a national security emergency and blaming record demand, failures of major plants and reduced hydro output. Power Fix Timeline: Barrow promised improvements by end of October, including a new 24-megawatt generator and a 50-megawatt solar plant, while NAWEC Managing Director Gallo Saidy asked for patience and pointed to regional grid constraints. Accountability Pressure: Protests and renewed scrutiny followed a National Audit Office special audit into NAWEC operations (2022–2024), highlighting procurement and internal control weaknesses. Local Politics on the Streets: In Farato, residents condemned the destruction of a police station and NPP office during the unrest. Sports—Youth Football: The Scorplings (Gambia U-17) began WAFU-A AFCON qualifiers with a 4-1 comeback win over Sierra Leone.

Electricity Crisis in Focus: Gambians in Banjul and nearby areas held candlelight protests and street demonstrations over rolling blackouts, with police firing tear gas as crowds burned tyres and marched toward NAWEC and State House, while President Adama Barrow urged calm and said the outages are a “national security issue,” promising a power boost by end of October (including a 24MW generator and a 50MW solar plant) and blaming regional supply constraints and high demand. Community Anger Turns Violent: In Farato, residents condemned the destruction of a police station and an NPP office during protests, saying attacking public institutions won’t restore electricity. Sports—Gambia’s Youth on the Rise: The Scorplings (Gambia U-17) began WAFU Zone A AFCON qualifying with a 4-1 comeback win over Sierra Leone. Diaspora Spotlight: Gambians in Texas honoured basketball legend Pa Modou Sarr, celebrating his legacy and impact on the sport.

Power Crisis & Protests: President Adama Barrow urged calm after violent blackout protests in Banjul and nearby areas, where demonstrators burned tyres, blocked roads and chanted “Barrow must go!” Police used tear gas near the NAWEC headquarters. Barrow called the outages a “national security issue” and promised a power boost by late October, including a new 24-megawatt generation unit and a 50-megawatt solar plant in Soma, as blackouts have sometimes lasted up to 48 hours since June. Sports—Gambia on the AFCON Trail: While Ghana’s Black Stars prepare for 2027 AFCON qualifiers, the Gambia is set to host Ghana at Accra Sports Stadium soon after Ghana’s away opener in Bouaké, with Ghana’s FA saying the stadium pitch will be ready and that Carlos Queiroz’s squad list will be submitted ahead of the matches. Gambia Football—Regional Success: Gambian striker Sarah Jarju finished joint-top scorer in the WAFU-A Women’s Champions League qualifiers with four goals, while the GFF’s newly elected president Kemo Ceesay attended his first WAFU-A congress in Kololi. Migration—Rescue Operations: MSF says more than 1,000 migrants were rescued off West Africa after boats left The Gambia for Spain’s Canary Islands and became stranded, with survivors reporting severe dehydration, injuries and infections.

Power Crisis in Banjul: Protests in Banjul escalated overnight as residents burned tyres and blocked roads over blackouts lasting up to 48 hours, with police using tear gas near NAWEC and around President Adama Barrow’s residence. Port of Banjul Boost: The Port of Banjul cut vessel turnaround time from 16 days 15 hours (2024) to 8 days 20 hours (2026), citing better coordination, faster cargo handling, and new container terminal capacity. Migration Rescue: MSF reports 1,046 migrants rescued in a week off West Africa, with boats departing The Gambia for Spain’s Canary Islands and survivors suffering severe dehydration and injuries. Gambia Football Moment: The Gambia U-17 team thrashed Sierra Leone 4-1 in U-17 AFCON qualifiers in Senegal. Regional Football Politics: GFF President Kemo Ceesay attended his first WAFU-A congress, while Ghana’s Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz is set to submit squads for AFCON qualifiers that include matches against The Gambia. Border Integrity Debate: A lands minister admitted a Gambian government facility was built on Senegalese territory, renewing calls for clearer border surveying and accountability.