Thousands Protest in Gambia Demanding Accountability from Barrow Government

By: TPA News Desk | African Politics | www.thepointafricanews.com/africa

Thousands of Gambians have poured into the streets of the capital, Banjul, to voice their profound dissatisfaction with President Adama Barrow’s government, accusing it of failing to tackle corruption, demonstrating inefficiency, and neglecting critical social issues. The widespread protest, spearheaded by the youth-led group “Gambians Against Looted Assets” (GALA), underscores growing public frustration over a range of grievances.

The immediate catalyst for the demonstration appears to be recent investigative reports by journalists revealing that assets allegedly looted under Barrow’s predecessor, Yahya Jammeh, were sold at significantly undervalued prices. These assets, which reportedly include over 200 tractors, herds of cattle, real estate, planes, 500 vehicles, plots of land, and even islands, were sold to private individuals. A key demand of the protesters is accountability for these sales and transparency regarding the buyers, whose identities the Barrow government has refused to disclose. The Janneh Commission, a government-commissioned inquiry established in 2017, had previously investigated financial misconduct during Jammeh’s 22-year rule and reported that he embezzled approximately US$362 million in state funds.

Protesters from all segments of society carried placards demanding transparency and accountability for the controversial sales. Beyond the issue of looted assets, demonstrators also expressed outrage over persistent power cuts, the escalating cost of basic commodities, and rising university tuition fees. They further called for the urgent implementation of disability legislation and demanded justice for the 66 children who tragically died in 2022 due to contaminated cough syrup. The cough syrup scandal, which involved Indian-manufactured medicines containing lethal toxins, has been a deeply emotional issue for many Gambian families, some of whom have initiated lawsuits against the manufacturers and local distributors.

GALA, which organized the protest, described it as the largest youth-led demonstration in the country’s history, signaling the emergence of a powerful, people-driven movement against institutionalized corruption and perceived poor governance. While the Gambian government has previously asserted that asset sales were conducted lawfully, the public outcry and the continued mobilization by groups like GALA indicate a deepening crisis of public trust and a demand for concrete action from the Barrow administration.