AGP Executive Report

Gunjur Mosque Opening: President Adama Barrow inaugurated a new mosque in Gunjur, with prayers led by Imam Alhagie Muhammed Lamin Touray and a message of peace, unity, and stability for the community. Gambia Politics & Youth: The Economic Freedom Fighters–The Gambia launched a bid for the 5 December presidential race, led by “Prince” Ebrima Sanyang, promising lower cost of living via “Freedom Stores,” jobs through “One Ward, One Industry,” and free education and healthcare support. Domestic Debt Watch: A national commentary flags The Gambia’s reported D55.43 billion domestic debt and warns that heavy reliance on short-term borrowing could crowd out development. Culture & Community Recognition: Chief James Chijioke Ume’s Unubiko Foundation was honoured in London at the Voice Achievers Award, with diplomats and African leaders celebrating cross-border humanitarian work. Health & Safety Policy: ECOWAS tax officials met in Conakry to discuss harmonising tobacco excise duties, aiming to protect public health while strengthening revenue. Human Rights Focus: Nine years after Myanmar’s 2017 atrocities, the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar renewed calls for accountability for crimes against Rohingya communities. Migration Legal Update: A US judge struck down a Trump administration immigrant-visa suspension affecting 75 countries, including The Gambia, restoring case-by-case processing.

Education & Youth: WAEC says 2026 WASSCE digital certificates for school candidates are now available online via the WAEC Digital Certificate Platform, urging students to log in promptly to access/download results. Faith & Community: President Adama Barrow inaugurated a new mosque in Gunjur, with prayers led by Imam Alhagie Muhammed Lamin Touray, who called for peace, unity, and stability. Culture & Arts: A Malta-based campaign is pushing back against the deportation of Gambian DJ Dollarino, arguing he has lived in Malta for 18 years and built deep ties in the music community. Regional Development: The AfDB-backed Strengthening Tax Administration Capacity Project will support The Gambia and five other West African countries with improved domestic revenue systems. Sports & Talent: Liverpool reportedly rejected a £50m bid for Gambian winger Yankuba Minteh, highlighting his rise from Bakoteh to top-flight football. Immigration (Global): A US judge struck down Trump’s blanket immigrant visa suspension affecting 75 countries, including The Gambia, restoring case-by-case processing.

Community & Faith: President Adama Barrow inaugurated a new mosque in Gunjur, with prayers led by Imam Alhagie Muhammed Lamin Touray and a sermon urging peace, unity, and dedication to worship. Education & Youth: WAEC says 2026 WASSCE digital certificates are now available online for school candidates via the WAEC Digital Certificate Platform. Culture & Lifestyle: A piece on “Pool Culture” argues for making swimming pools a home priority for health and family life, while another story traces how mango season travels and becomes a shared culinary tradition across generations. Sports & Pride: Yankuba Minteh’s rise is spotlighted after reports that Liverpool rejected a £50m bid for the Gambian forward. Migration & Family Life: A US judge struck down a Trump-era immigrant visa suspension affecting 75 countries, including The Gambia, calling the policy unlawful—good news for families waiting on reunification. Regional Humanitarian News: Mauritania’s coastguard rescued 300+ migrants, including 40 children, after a boat set off from The Gambia. Development Watch: The Petroleum Commission (PC) launched its 15th anniversary celebration, while a separate report highlights water access gains from Kirinyaga’s eWATER model.

Petroleum & Regulation: Ghana’s Petroleum Commission kicked off its 15th anniversary with a year of symposiums, a documentary premiere, a sports festival, STEM projects, coastal clean-ups, and a gala—celebrating “regulatory excellence” and pushing a sustainable upstream future. US Immigration Policy: A US judge in Manhattan struck down Trump’s immigrant-visa suspension affecting 75 countries, including The Gambia, calling it “patently unlawful” and beyond the Secretary of State’s authority—meaning immigrant visa processing should resume for eligible applicants. Gunjur Mosque Opening: President Adama Barrow inaugurated a new mosque in Gunjur, with prayers led by Imam Alhagie Muhammed Lamin Touray, who urged peace, unity, and faithful worship. Water & Community Health: A World Bank and Mozambique delegation visited Kenya’s eWATER model, highlighting community smart taps, affordable tariffs, and safer water access—relevant to the wider region’s health and development goals. Education Access: WAEC says 2026 WASSCE digital certificates are now available online for school candidates via its digital platform. Culture & Lifestyle: Chinese green tea culture (ataya/attaya) keeps spreading across West Africa, with three-round serving traditions strengthening social ties.

Immigration & Rights: A US federal judge in Manhattan struck down the Trump administration’s immigrant visa suspension affecting 75 countries, including The Gambia, calling it “patently unlawful” and beyond the US Secretary of State’s authority. Gunjur Community Life: President Adama Barrow inaugurated a new mosque in Gunjur, with prayers led by Imam Alhagie Muhammed Lamin Touray, who urged peace, unity, and stability. Water & Community Development: A World Bank and Mozambique delegation visited Kirinyaga to benchmark eWATER’s smart-tap model, highlighting community participation, affordable tariffs, and safer rural water access. Education Access: WAEC says 2026 WASSCE digital certificates are now available online for school candidates via its digital certificate platform. Culture & Sports: Festibad Gambia brought badminton skills to communities nationwide, training PE teachers and youth in partnership with the Gambia Badminton Association and international badminton bodies. Migration Reality Check: Mauritania’s coastguard rescued 315 migrants from a boat drifting off Nouadhibou, including 123 Gambians and 40 children.

Water & Community Resilience: A World Bank and Mozambique delegation visited Kirinyaga to benchmark the eWater model, highlighting community participation, affordable tariffs, water conservation, and smart systems that expand safe water access in rural areas. Child Health & Climate: New research links climate change to higher childhood diarrhea risk across sub-Saharan Africa, while pointing to everyday resilience factors like clean water access and transport that can soften the impact. Migration & Safety at Sea: Mauritania’s coastguard rescued 315 migrants from a drifting boat off Nouadhibou, including 40 children, with the vessel reported to have set off from The Gambia. Education & Access: WAEC says 2026 WASSCE digital certificates are now available online for school candidates to download from its official platform. Culture & Sports Development: Festibad Gambia brought badminton training to communities nationwide, partnering with the Gambia Badminton Association and GNOC support to build skills for youth and PE teachers. Diaspora & Rights: A Malta-based campaign is pushing to halt the deportation of Gambian DJ Dollarino, urging authorities to regularise his status after years in the music scene.

Pan-African Culture & Diaspora: The Voice Achievers Award marks its 15th anniversary in London with a global honours ceremony and business dialogue, spotlighting Black excellence and African fashion talent. Religious Life & Politics: Primate Elijah Ayodele releases new prophecies on African leaders, touching on elections, party divisions and security concerns. Migration & Safety at Sea: Mauritania’s coastguard rescued 315 migrants from a drifting boat off Nouadhibou, including 40 children, after departures from The Gambia and Senegal. Education Access: WAEC says 2026 WASSCE digital certificates are now available online for school candidates. Culture & Community Sports: Festibad Gambia brings badminton training to communities nationwide, with support from the Gambia Badminton Association and partners. Health & Learning: A new discussion highlights period poverty’s impact on girls’ schooling, including local realities in The Gambia. Gambia Abroad & Belonging: A campaign in Malta seeks to stop deportation of a Gambian DJ, arguing for regularising his long-standing status through the music community. Football Spotlight: Yankuba Minteh’s rise continues as Liverpool’s £50m bid is reported rejected by Brighton. Justice & Memory: An explainer revisits what happened to TRRC victims after truth-telling, including reparations progress. Sports Diplomacy: Senegal confirms official patronage for MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 in Dakar, reflecting regional energy momentum.

Education & Youth: WAEC says 2026 WASSCE digital certificates are now available online for school candidates, urging quick access via the WAEC Digital Certificate Platform. Learning & Skills: The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education links weak maths results to a shortage of qualified maths teachers, noting few students choose maths careers at higher levels. Politics & Unity: Tuti Faal calls for civility in politics, warning against division and hate speech ahead of the next election cycle. Culture & Sport: Festibad Gambia brings badminton into communities, training PE teachers and youth with partners including the Gambia Badminton Association and GNOC support. Diaspora & Community: President Barrow tours landmark projects in Libreville and meets Gambians living in Gabon. Migration & Rights: A Malta-based campaign seeks to stop deportation of Gambian DJ Dollarino after 18 years, asking for status regularisation. Regional Life: A study highlights very high emigration interest in The Gambia, with Europe the main pull. Health & Care: A breast cancer story spotlights the struggle for treatment and the role of community support in The Gambia. International Culture Links: China-Africa audiovisual cooperation expands through co-productions and tech sharing, with more African programs airing in China. Justice & Memory: An explainer reviews what happened to TRRC victims after hearings, including the status of reparations. Visa Updates: The US announces routine visa service realignment affecting Banjul and other hubs, with changes effective from August 1.

Education & Youth: WAEC says 2026 WASSCE digital certificates are now available online for school candidates via the WAEC Digital Certificate Platform. School Performance: MoBSE reports Mansa Colley Bojang SSS (Brikama) as top overall in the 2026 WASSCE, with 97.04% of candidates scoring five credits or more, including English and Mathematics. Learning Challenges: Basic and Secondary Education Minister Habibatou Drammeh links weak maths results to a shortage of qualified maths teachers and a limited pipeline into maths-related careers. Health & Women: A breast cancer survivor story highlights the real cost of treatment and the support networks that keep patients going, while a separate piece calls out period poverty as a barrier to girls’ schooling in The Gambia. Culture & Community Sports: Festibad Gambia brings badminton skills to communities, training PE teachers and youth with partners including the Gambia Badminton Association and GNOC support. Diaspora & Rights: A Malta-based campaign is pushing to halt the deportation of Gambian DJ Dollarino, urging authorities to allow him to regularise his status. Politics & Unity: Multiple opinion pieces and statements urge Gambians to reject divisive, tribal politics ahead of the next election cycle. Migration Pressure: A study flags very high emigration interest in The Gambia, with Europe the main pull. Diplomacy: A tribute marks Fatou Bom Bensouda’s appointment as Gambia’s High Commissioner to the UK, praising her visible, community-engaged leadership. Regional Context: ECOWAS tourism stakeholders meet to strengthen regional business ties, with The Gambia among participating countries.

Education & Youth: The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education says low WASCCE maths results are linked to a shortage of qualified mathematics teachers, with only 1,556 of 20,000 candidates getting credits in at least five subjects including English and maths. Sports & Community: Festibad Gambia is boosting badminton across communities, training children, youth leaders and PE teachers, and ending with an MoU signing between Fajara Club and the Gambia Badminton Association. Health & Women: A breast cancer survivor story highlights the struggle to afford treatment, while also pointing to the role of workplace support in keeping patients going. Culture & Belonging: A reflective piece on Gambian identity argues that diversity should be a “doorway,” not a wall—rooted in everyday community life in Banjul and beyond. Politics & Unity: Former first lady Tuti Faal urges Gambians to reject divisive politics and keep civility, reminding people that “politics is not war.” Migration & Rights: An explainer looks at what happened to TRRC victims after hearings ended, including the status of reparations and government follow-through. Regional Focus: West Africa’s emigration hopes remain high, with The Gambia standing out in a new Afrobarometer study. International Court: Bangladesh’s foreign affairs state minister says it appreciates The Gambia for pursuing the Rohingya genocide case at the ICJ. Visa Updates: The US announces routine visa services realignment to regional hubs, with Banjul listed among affected locations.

Migration & Borders: Algeria and Mauritania say they intercepted or rescued more than 500 irregular migrants trying to reach Europe by sea, as authorities step up coastal crackdowns and push back smuggling networks. TRRC Aftermath: An explainer looks at what happened to victims after The Gambia’s TRRC hearings ended, including the status of reparations and compensation payments. Education & Health: The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education links weak WASCCE maths results to a shortage of qualified maths teachers, while another report highlights the real cost of breast cancer care and the support systems that help patients keep going. Sports for Youth: Festibad Gambia brings badminton training to communities nationwide, building skills with PE teachers and partners including the Gambia Badminton Association. Politics & Unity: Former first lady Tuti Faal urges Gambians to reject divisive politics, and opposition leaders push for coalition unity ahead of the December 2026 election. Culture & Identity: A personal essay reflects on Gambian community life and belonging, and a separate piece flags tribal rhetoric concerns after an Imam’s remarks circulated online.

Education & Equity: The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education says low WASSCE maths results are partly driven by a shortage of qualified mathematics teachers, with only 1,556 of 20,000 candidates earning credits in at least five subjects including English and maths. School Spotlight: Mansa Colley Bojang Senior Secondary School in Brikama Jalanbang tops the 2026 WASSCE overall ranking, with 97.04% of candidates scoring five credits or more. Health & Women’s Rights: A feature on period poverty highlights how girls in The Gambia may skip school for days each month due to lack of menstrual products and facilities. Culture & Community: In Bakau, a women’s tradition group keeps Mandinka songs alive at weddings and naming ceremonies, turning community support into resilience. Ethnic Tensions: Imam Baba Leigh has been flagged for tribal rhetoric after remarks circulating online, raising fresh concerns as the country heads toward a major election. Diaspora & Politics: The NPP Seattle chapter raised US$65,230 for the 2026 campaign, stressing transparency and accountability. International Affairs: Bangladesh’s Shama Obaed Islam praises The Gambia for pursuing the Rohingya genocide case at the ICJ. Travel & Mobility: The US announces changes to routine visa services in Africa, listing Banjul among affected locations.

Menstrual health & education: A new report highlights how period poverty is costing Gambian girls school days each month, with many missing up to five days because they lack products and sanitary facilities. Rohingya genocide case: Bangladesh’s foreign ministry says State Minister Shama Obaed Islam thanked The Gambia for pursuing Myanmar at the ICJ, linking a successful outcome to voluntary Rohingya returns. US visa changes affecting Gambia: The US State Department says routine visa services are being realigned to regional hubs, listing Banjul among affected locations for non-immigrant visa applicants. Women’s skills & digital marketing: A China-based seminar brought together women leaders and entrepreneurs from across Africa, including The Gambia, to learn short-video and live-streaming marketing. Breast cancer care in The Gambia: A survivor story puts a spotlight on the real cost of treatment and the support systems that help patients keep going. Education & WASSCE: MoBSE names Mansa Colley Bojang SSS as top overall in the 2026 WASSCE results, while also pointing to a maths-teacher shortage behind low performance. Tribal rhetoric debate: Imam Baba Leigh faces backlash after remarks flagged as tribal stereotyping, as election-season tensions rise. Politics & unity: Tuti Faal and opposition leaders urge civility and coalition-building ahead of the December 2026 presidential election. Roads & health projects: President Barrow inaugurates new roads and health initiatives in Central River Region North, including an ambulance for Ballanghar Jaloto. SGBV legal awareness marathon: A lawyer announces a 220-hour reading record to boost understanding of SGBV laws across 15 African countries, including The Gambia.

Tourism & Regional Business: ECOWAS held a COPITOUR consultative meeting in Abuja with tourism leaders from across West Africa, including The Gambia, stressing tourism’s role in peace, cultural understanding, jobs and investment. Health & Women’s Care: A Gambia breast cancer survivor story highlights the real struggle of affording treatment, with colleagues stepping in as key support. Tech & Skills: NASENI and The Gambia move toward a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen technology development, TVET, research, innovation and skills commercialization. Education Results: Mansa Colley Bojang SSS in Brikama topped the 2026 WASSCE rankings, while WAEC reported overall credit performance and candidate statistics. Politics & Unity: Opposition leaders and former first lady Tuti Faal urged Gambians to reject divisive, tribal politics ahead of the December 2026 election. Migration Governance: The EU, IOM and The Gambia launched training to strengthen monitoring and reporting on migration under the Global Compact. Culture & Community: Women’s Kanyeleng gatherings in Bakau use song and solidarity to support those facing infertility and child loss.

Opposition Unity Push: UDP leader Ousainu Darboe says the Gambia First Coalition must unite behind “Team Gambia” ahead of the December 2026 presidential election, with a shared reform agenda and open doors for other parties. Unity vs Division: Former first lady Tuti Faal urges Gambians to reject divisive politics and hate speech, warning that tribal and inflammatory rhetoric can erode national unity. Education Spotlight: Mansa Colley Bojang Senior Secondary School tops the country in the 2026 WASSCE, with 97.04% of candidates achieving five credits or more. Diaspora Politics: NPP’s Seattle chapter raises US$65,230 for the 2026 campaign, emphasizing transparency and accountability in party funding. Transport for Health Access: Deputy Speaker Seedy SK Njie pledges a faster ferry to improve Banjul–Barra crossings after children raised concerns about delays affecting patients. Migration Governance: The EU and IOM launch training to strengthen The Gambia’s monitoring and reporting on migration governance under the Global Compact. Tech & Skills Cooperation: NASENI and The Gambia move toward a MoU to deepen technology development and TVET, following a ministerial visit to Abuja. Culture & Community: A feature highlights the Kanyeleng tradition where women turn grief and resilience into song and performance, keeping community solidarity alive.

Roads & Health in CRR North: President Adama Barrow inaugurated new roads and health projects, including a road linking Yalal to inland communities, an agro-logistics centre at Maka Farafenni, and an ambulance for Ballanghar Jaloto—aimed at better access to markets, schools and care. Banjul–Barra Ferry Upgrade: Deputy Speaker Seedy SK Njie promised a faster, more reliable ferry after children raised concerns that delays worsen medical emergencies and strain families. Women’s Food Security Push: Kanifing Municipal Council opened a circular agriculture facility with gardens, a market, cold storage and composting to cut post-harvest losses and create jobs for women. Education Results & Access: WAEC released 2026 WASSCE results in The Gambia, with 1,556 candidates earning at least five credits, and noted incomplete records still being processed. Migration Governance Training: The EU, IOM and The Gambia launched a four-day training to strengthen monitoring and reporting on migration governance under the Global Compact, with a gender-responsive focus. Tech & Skills Cooperation: NASENI and The Gambia agreed to develop an MoU to deepen technology development and TVET, following a ministerial visit to NASENI facilities in Abuja. Tertiary Funding Lessons from Nigeria: The Gambia plans a study tour of Nigeria’s TETFund as it sets up its own THET Fund to support higher education financing. SGBV Law Awareness Marathon: A Nigerian lawyer announced a 220-hour Guinness reading marathon on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence laws across 15 African countries, including The Gambia. Hate Speech Watch: Malagen Media Monitoring flagged Imam Baba Leigh for tribal rhetoric targeting Mandinkas, raising concerns ahead of The Gambia’s presidential election. Marble Voting & Election Culture: A new analysis revisits The Gambia’s marble voting system and what it means for trust, integrity and the future of elections.