AGP Executive Report

Border & Migration: Gambia Immigration intercepted 43 prospective irregular migrants at Sifoe Village in an inter-agency operation, including 13 Gambians and 26 Senegalese, with one pregnant woman among the group. University & Staff Welfare: UTGFSA congress adopted resolutions on staff welfare, promotions and governance reforms, with leaders stressing the association’s independence and push for stronger accountability. Faith & Democracy: Vice President Jallow met Bishop Dag Heward‑Mills, reaffirming freedom of religion and praising Gambia’s tradition of religious tolerance. Elections & Trust: The IEC’s plan to use a Canadian firm (ESI) for voter registration support has sparked calls for full transparency on safeguards, access and oversight of the voter register. Diaspora Voting: UDP leader Darboe pledged diaspora inclusion, including voting rights for eligible Gambians abroad in presidential and parliamentary elections. Healthcare & Education: Africmed sponsored white coats for 74 UTG medical students, marking another step for future doctors and stronger healthcare delivery. Urban Planning: Minister Hamat Bah urged more housing investment, land reforms and climate-resilient urban financing at a UN-Habitat meeting. Regional Spotlight: Mauritania rescued 216 migrants off its coast, with over 120 still missing from one boat that left Banjul.

Banking & Innovation: Access Bank wins 16 Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, spotlighting customer experience, digital banking, SME finance, sustainable finance and corporate responsibility. Sports & Youth: Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2026 in Lagos confirm 20 participating countries, including The Gambia, with India leading and U-23 individual events added for more young athletes. Migration & Work Rights: UK Home Office raids at Evri depots lead to 10 arrests, including a Gambian overstayer, with possible employer fines and removal steps underway. Culture, Faith & Community: In Banjul, Imam Ratib welcomes Pakistani scholar Shaikh Asad Madni, drawing leaders and worshippers for talks on unity and spiritual practices. Women’s Access to Justice: FLAG brings free legal aid to Busumbala, urging women and children to break silence and seek support for rights violations. Youth & Skills: VP Jallow marks Youth Day by calling for investment in education, healthcare and opportunities for a country where over 60% of people are under 25. Human Rights & Policing: NHRC urges police to investigate unlawful killings and flags concerns over excessive force, including tear gas used during peaceful gatherings. Financial Inclusion: Wave Gambia highlights mobile money’s role in expanding access to formal finance, as inclusion rises sharply in recent survey findings. International Travel Updates: Jamaica confirms visa-free entry for citizens of 16 African countries, including The Gambia, tied largely to Commonwealth links.

Mental Health & Inclusion: A new disability inclusion column argues The Gambia must treat mental health as central to inclusion, tackling stigma, isolation, and gaps in community and school support. Migration & Rescue: Mauritania’s coast guard rescued 216 migrants in two operations, including four Gambians, while over 120 remain missing after one boat sank. Justice for Women & Children: FLAG’s free legal aid outreach in Busumbala urges women and children to break silence on abuse and access counselling and legal remedies. Youth & Education: Vice President Jallow calls for bold youth investment, citing that over 60% of Gambians are under 25, and pledges support to revive medical students’ international electives. Religion & Community Life: In Banjul, Imam Ratib welcomed Pakistani scholar Shaikh Asad Madni, highlighting Islamic unity and spiritual practices. Human Rights Watch: NHRC urges police to investigate unlawful killings and flags concerns about excessive force and detention conditions. Culture & Design: NCAC pays tribute to veteran graphic designer Ruth Carrol, credited with shaping logos and book design across major Gambian institutions. Sports: Commonwealth Fencing Federation confirms 20 countries for Lagos 2026, including The Gambia.

Visa-Free Travel: Jamaica confirmed visa-free entry for citizens of 16 African countries in 2026, including The Gambia, while Nigeria remains excluded—an update that could boost tourism and cultural exchange. Immigration Crackdown Abroad: In the UK, Home Office raids at Evri depots led to 10 arrests, including a Gambian overstayer, with employers facing fines up to £60,000 per worker. Rights & Justice at Home: The NHRC urged the police to investigate alleged unlawful killings and criticized detention conditions, while it also reported TRRC implementation remains slow—only 48 of 263 accepted recommendations fully completed. Women’s Legal Support: FLAG launched free legal aid outreach in Busumbala to help women and children break the silence on abuse and access justice. Culture & Faith: In Banjul, Imam Ratib welcomed Pakistani scholar Shaikh Asad Madni, highlighting Islamic unity and Sufi traditions. Youth & Education: VP Jallow marked World Youth Day by calling for bold investment in skills, healthcare, and opportunity for The Gambia’s youth-heavy population. Remembering Creatives: NCAC paid tribute to veteran graphic designer Ruth Carrol, famed for logos and book design that shaped national institutions.

Immigration Crackdown in the UK: Home Office raids at Evri depots led to the arrest of 10 delivery workers, including a Gambian and a Ghanaian, with suspects placed on immigration bail and removal considered—another reminder of how migrant livelihoods can be disrupted overnight. US Travel Restrictions: A proposed “Third World Immigration Moratorium Act” would bar entry to the US from 39 countries, with The Gambia listed among those facing partial suspension—raising fresh concerns for families, students, and travellers. Gambians Abroad, Consular Needs: President Adama Barrow met Gambians in Jeddah, hearing calls for more scholarships and stronger support on residence, work permits, and Hajj access. Youth & Education Focus: VP Jallow urged bold youth investment, citing that over 60% of Gambians are under 25, while medical students pushed to revive international electives and improve teaching facilities. Women’s Access to Justice: FLAG’s free legal aid outreach in Busumbala encouraged women and children to break silence and seek help. Culture & Design Legacy: NCAC paid tribute to veteran graphic designer Ruth Carrol, credited with shaping logos and book design across major Gambian institutions. Football Development: The Gambia Football Federation launched a CAF A-Diploma coaching course to upgrade local training and qualifications.

Immigration Crackdown: UK Home Office raids at Evri depots led to the arrest of 10 people for suspected illegal working and visa overstays, including Gambian and Ghanaian nationals; those detained were placed on immigration bail as authorities move to remove them. Visa & Mobility Updates: The Gambia appears on lists tied to U.S. visa suspension rules for certain nationalities, while Mauritania and DR Congo continue expanding online visa/eVisa pathways for African travellers. Digital Finance & Inclusion: Wave Gambia highlights how mobile money is driving financial inclusion, with new survey figures showing a major rise in formal access. Women’s Access to Justice: FLAG’s free legal aid outreach in Busumbala urges women and children to break silence and use support services for rights violations. Youth & Skills Push: VP Jallow calls for bold youth investment as The Gambia’s population stays young, while GFF launches a CAF A-Diploma coaching course to upgrade local football training. Human Rights & Accountability: NHRC urges police to investigate unlawful killings and flags detention-centre concerns; TRRC implementation remains slow with only 48 of 263 accepted recommendations fully done. Culture Spotlight: NCAC pays tribute to veteran graphic designer/book publisher Ruth Carrol, credited with shaping major Gambian logos and book design.

Gambia Youth & Education: VP Jallow marked World Youth Day by urging bold investment in skills, healthcare and opportunities, citing that over 60% of Gambians are under 25 and calling for sustained human-capital funding. Women’s Rights & Justice Access: FLAG brought free legal aid to Busumbala, pushing women and children to stop suffering in silence and use legal remedies without cost barriers. Youth Employment & Training: A new national policy aims to protect interns and improve workplace learning quality, with fairness and better links between schools and employers. Religious & Community Life: In Banjul, Imam Ratib welcomed Pakistani scholar Shaikh Asad Madni in a major gathering focused on Islamic unity and education. Sports Development: The Gambia Football Federation launched its CAF A-Diploma coaching course to upgrade local football coaching skills. Human Rights & Safety: NHRC urged police to investigate unlawful killings and raised concerns about excessive force, while debate over the death penalty continues amid rising violent crime fears. Culture & Heritage: NCAC paid tribute to veteran graphic designer Ruth Carrol, celebrated for shaping Gambian logos and book design. Regional Mobility: Gambia’s visa-free entry list for 2026 was published, reinforcing ECOWAS free movement. International Spotlight: President Barrow met Gambians in Jeddah, addressing scholarships and immigration permit challenges for students and families.

TRRC Accountability: The NHRC says TRRC implementation is still painfully slow, with only 48 of 263 government commitments fully implemented as of June–Dec 2025, despite small gains. Human Rights & Detention: NHRC reporting highlights overcrowded, unsanitary prisons and police stations, prolonged pretrial detention, weak healthcare, and excessive use of force—plus ongoing concerns over violence against women and girls, FGM, rape, and child abuse. Interns Protected: A new national policy aims to safeguard interns’ rights, improve workplace learning, and strengthen fairness and inclusion through better coordination between schools and employers. Tourism Governance: A GTBoard sensitisation workshop clarified the legal framework for the Tourism Development Area, stressing government ownership and GTBoard’s role in administration. Football Development: The Gambia Football Federation launched a CAF A-Diploma coaching course (July 2026–Jan 2027) to upgrade local technical capacity. Community & Faith: VP Jallow inaugurated a new Dara at Half Die, supported by Alport Banjul, to expand Islamic education and access to worship. Visa News (Regional): Gambia’s ECOWAS visa-free entry list for 2026 is confirmed, while Jamaica, India, and Malawi also publish updated African eligibility lists for travel.

Football & Education: The Gambia Football Federation has launched the CAF A-Diploma Coaching Course, a home-based pathway for Gambian coaches running July 2026 to January 2027, with 240 hours of training and a thesis project. Tourism Governance: Minister Abdoulie Jobe led a stakeholder workshop on the Tourism Development Area, clarifying land ownership by the Government of The Gambia and GTBoard’s role in administering the zone. Work & Youth Rights: A new national policy aims to protect interns by setting standards for quality workplace learning, fairness, and stronger links between schools and employers. Human Rights & Justice: The NHRC says detention centres are overcrowded and unsanitary, and calls for faster implementation of TRRC recommendations, while also urging constitutional change to abolish the death penalty. Social Protection: Government launched the National Social Protection Policy 2026–2035, focusing on cash transfers, school feeding, health insurance, livelihood support, and vulnerable groups. Community & Faith: VP Jallow inaugurated a new Dara at Banjul Half Die, strengthening Islamic education and community access to the mosque. Politics & Identity: Bensouda urged voters to reject hate speech and focus on policies, defending his Gambian roots amid ethnic-based attacks. Crime & Safety Debate: Commentaries highlight rising violent crime and growing public distrust, arguing that conditions—not just statistics—are driving insecurity.

Gambia–Indonesia Cooperation: Agriculture and food security are driving the latest joint push, with a Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation set to support rice irrigation, mechanisation, training and agro-processing—aiming to cut Gambia’s dependence on imported food. Human Rights & Justice: The NHRC is sounding the alarm on detention conditions, citing overcrowding, poor sanitation, prolonged pre-trial detention and weak healthcare, while also urging faster TRRC recommendation implementation and stronger protection for women, children and people with disabilities. Religious & Community Life: VP Jallow inaugurated a new Dara at Banjul Half Die, backed by Alport Banjul, strengthening Islamic learning and community access to the mosque. Tourism Skills for Locals: ITC-EU-YEP training at ITTOG ended with 50 Gambians gaining tourism product development skills, from lodge/restaurant upgrades to culturally authentic excursions. Elections & Hate Speech: Jawneh urged Gambians to reject hate speech and keep peace and respectful political competition ahead of elections. Football Development: GFF launched its CAF A Diploma Coaching Course to raise local coaching standards and grow Gambian football. Housing: SSHFC rolled out the Mandinaba Housing Estate plot sales programme, targeting about 1,000 planned plots with roads, utilities and community facilities.

EDUSA Support: The VDF foundation extended its backing for EDUSA’s nationwide tour with D80,000 in total plus food items, reaffirming a focus on education and national cohesion. Tourism Skills: 50 Gambians completed EU-funded training at ITTOG on tourism product development, from packaging excursions to improving service quality and marketing. Faith & Community: VP Jallow inaugurated a new Dara at Banjul Half Die, named for late Imam Muhammed Lamin Bah, with Alport Banjul supporting Islamic education and community access to worship. Rohingya Diplomacy: President Barrow met OIC’s Assistant Secretary General in Jeddah to discuss OIC support for the Rohingya case at the ICJ. Human Rights Watch: NHRC chair Emmanuel Daniel Joof warned detention centres are overcrowded and unsanitary, citing prolonged pre-trial detention, poor healthcare, and delays in justice, while also flagging violence against women and girls and ongoing FGM. Election Peace: Activist Nfamara Jawneh urged Gambians to reject hate speech and campaign responsibly ahead of elections. Public Safety: Reports highlight a rising stabbing crisis, pushing calls for stronger prevention, not just reaction. Housing & Land: SSHFC rolled out plot sales for the Mandinaba Housing Estate, promising planned infrastructure and about 1,000 residential plots. Football Development: GFF launched its maiden CAF A Diploma Coaching Course to upgrade local coaching standards. Migration Pressure: ECOWAS Parliament urged job creation across West Africa, saying unemployment and weak training are driving irregular migration.

Culture & Recognition: The Voice Achievers Awards returns for its 15th edition on Aug 21 in London, with a business dialogue on mental empowerment, economic inclusion and culture, and a gala celebrating 45 winners selected from 300+ nominations. Community & Housing: SSHFC is rolling out the Mandinaba Housing Estate plot sales, a planned 54-hectare development with about 1,000 plots plus roads, water/electricity, schools, markets and religious grounds. Football Development: GFF launches its maiden CAF A Diploma Coaching Course at NTTC Old Yundum, aiming to upgrade local coaching standards and grow Gambian technical capacity. Public Safety: Reports of a mounting stabbing crisis are pushing calls for stronger prevention, not just arrests, as violence linked to everyday disputes spreads fear across communities. Elections & Speech: Civil society warns that hate speech could undermine the 2026 elections, urging civic education and tighter enforcement. Migration Pressure: ECOWAS Parliament highlights youth unemployment and weak training access as key drivers of irregular migration, after a week of engagement in The Gambia. Tourism Governance: GTBoard convenes stakeholders to clarify the legal status and administration of the Tourism Development Area, to improve coordination and investment.

Public Safety & Crime: Reports of a mounting stabbing crisis in The Gambia are raising alarms, with killings linked to everyday triggers like domestic disputes, late-night gatherings, bars/restaurants, and neighbourhood quarrels—pushing calls for stronger prevention, not just arrests. Housing & Community Life: SSHFC has announced the rollout of plot sales for the Mandinaba Housing Estate, a planned 54-hectare development aiming to deliver about 1,000 affordable residential plots with roads, water/electricity, schools, religious grounds, and market facilities, using a transparent allocation framework. Youth, Jobs & Migration: ECOWAS Parliament’s week-long engagement in The Gambia highlights unemployment, underemployment, low incomes, and limited access to education and vocational training as key drivers of irregular migration and human trafficking. Elections & Civic Peace: Civil society warns that hate speech could undermine the 2026 elections, urging stronger civic education and enforcement while asking politicians to avoid tribal, religious, and personal attacks. Women’s Rights & Justice: Fresh debate around FGM and consent spotlights how survivors face hostility after speaking out, and how the TRRC experience shows the need to protect women’s voices and tackle the culture of silence. Tourism & Culture: GTBoard held a stakeholder sensitisation workshop on the legal status and administration of the Tourism Development Area, as the tourism ministry pushes GTHI and the creative sector revival. International Travel Rules: The UK and UAE continue updating visa/entry clearance requirements affecting Gambia travellers, while Ethiopia and Tanzania publish visa-on-arrival and visa-free lists for 2026.

ECOWAS Youth Jobs & Anti-Trafficking: ECOWAS Parliament wrapped a week of talks in The Gambia, urging West African governments to create decent youth jobs, expand education and vocational training, and tighten anti-trafficking laws—warning unemployment and shrinking opportunities are pushing young people toward irregular migration. Education & Inclusion Tech: The Gambia-linked migrant-background student group is helping improve Korea for Everyone, an AI Korean-learning platform, with monthly feedback shaping updates for tablets, quizzes, and learning plans. Immigration Pressure on Gambians: The UK again updated entry rules, restating that The Gambia and 30+ African countries require entry clearance/visas for short visits or transit, with travellers warned to confirm eligibility before booking. Migration Safety on the Ground: Gambia Immigration intercepted 15 suspected would-be migrants in Kerr Jane, acting on intelligence. Women’s Rights Debate: A fresh Gambia-focused discussion challenges “choice” arguments around FGM, stressing children can’t give meaningful consent. Culture & Tourism: Tourism officials hosted UTG student leaders ahead of Students’ Week, while the tourism ministry outlined a push for arts, culture and creative industries to drive jobs and authentic visitor experiences. Climate & Food Security: Reporting highlights saltwater intrusion damaging Gambian farming, forcing communities to abandon fields and rethink soil and water solutions.

FGM & Consent Debate: A new argument in The Gambia challenges “choice” framing, stressing FGM is done to children who cannot give meaningful consent, and urging a focus on women’s real freedom to refuse. Tourism & Youth Culture: The Tourism Ministry hosted UTG student leaders ahead of Students’ Week, while NCCE training targets youth, women, religious figures and influencers to spread accurate info and reduce misinformation ahead of elections. Inclusive Civic Engagement: NCCE’s nationwide sessions aim to strengthen dialogue and responsible communication across regions, including marginalized groups like persons with disabilities. Tourism Growth Plan: Tourism Minister Jobe fielded questions at a town hall, pushing a diversified tourism model centered on arts, culture, creative industries and youth entrepreneurship, plus digital marketing and TVET reforms. Heritage Under Pressure: A fresh call warns The Gambia’s heritage is “under siege,” arguing cultural memory and sites must be protected and promoted for identity and future livelihoods. Migration & Jobs: ECOWAS Parliament urged job creation and stronger anti-trafficking action, saying unemployment and low incomes are driving irregular migration. Health & Skills: The Gambia unveiled a US$13m plan to expand TVET with centres of excellence for agribusiness and fisheries. Environment & Land: Reports highlight threats to wetlands like Tanbi and Ebo Town’s wetland from illegal backfilling and construction. Regional Peace: Gambia Police launched a community peace initiative with Senegal to tackle border tensions through dialogue and early warning.

Community Health Access: WACP Liberia Chapter brought free specialist consultations, screenings and prevention education to New Kru Town, aiming to reach underserved residents ahead of its AGSM. Faith & Leadership: President Adama Barrow performed Umrah in Makkah, marking the spiritual climax of his journey with prayers, Tawaf and Sa’i. Youth, Jobs & Migration: ECOWAS Parliament urged West African governments to prioritize decent jobs for young people, saying unemployment and low incomes are pushing irregular migration; it also called for stronger anti-trafficking laws and support for returnees. Climate & Food Security: A report highlights saltwater intrusion in Bantang Killing, where farmland is turning too salty for crops, forcing abandonment and threatening livelihoods. Skills for Growth: The Gambia unveiled a US$13m plan to set up TVET centres of excellence for agribusiness and fisheries, backed by the World Bank. Women’s Rights in Court: The Supreme Court’s FGM case continues, with proceedings hearing expert evidence and adjourning to July 14. Disability Inclusion: His Worship Muhammed Krubally is profiled as a leading disability rights advocate and The Gambia’s first visually impaired Principal Magistrate. Emergency Care Upgrade: FaBB Foundation commissioned the first Accident & Emergency Unit at Bansang General Hospital to cut delays for emergency patients. Heritage & Culture: UNESCO selected NCAC’s Jarju for a 12-month World Heritage mentorship programme, supporting better conservation governance for sites including Kunta Kinteh Island and Senegambia Stone Circles. Art Scene Boost: ART27 Gallery’s new permanent space in Kartong is set to give artists a stable exhibition home and income-generating activities.