By Kebba AF Touray
President Adama Barrow’s 2025 State of the Nation Address, delivered before a packed National Assembly in Banjul, offered a sweeping and politically charged blueprint for the future of The Gambia — a small West African nation still healing from the wounds of dictatorship and navigating a turbulent global landscape.
From transitional justice and anti-corruption reforms to infrastructure expansion and global diplomacy, the President’s speech touched nearly every sector of national life, painting a picture of a government determined to transform, digitize, and reposition itself on the world stage — even as it battles internal weaknesses, public skepticism, and geopolitical headwinds.
Justice and Accountability: The Long Road After the TRRC
At the heart of Barrow’s message was the long-awaited announcement that the Victims Reparations Commission and Special Accountability Mechanism will become operational in 2025, nearly two years after the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) delivered its final report. It is a major milestone in Gambia’s post-dictatorship transitional justice process.
The reparations effort will offer financial and psychological support to survivors of human rights violations under the Yahya Jammeh regime. Yet, many civil society leaders have expressed concern about the delay and the lack of clarity around funding and prosecutorial independence.
Complementing this justice agenda, Barrow also announced that the Anti-Corruption Commission — legally established but not yet fully functional — will begin operations this year. It joins an expanding constellation of governance bodies, including the restructured State-Owned Enterprise Commission and the Public Procurement Authority, all tasked with restoring public confidence in state institutions.
Digital Nation: Identity, Broadband, and Cyber Governance
In a major leap toward e-governance, Barrow unveiled plans for a nationally managed digital biometric identity system. This new framework will consolidate national ID cards, voter registration, civil records, and passports under a single digital umbrella, aiming to eliminate fraud and reduce administrative bottlenecks.
The rollout is part of a broader digital infrastructure agenda that includes the extension of broadband to 60% of the population and the deployment of a second undersea fiber-optic cable to improve connectivity and data resilience.
To protect citizens’ digital rights, the government is drafting a Cybersecurity Bill and revising the Data Protection Act. Meanwhile, mobile wallet services and SIM-based financial technologies are being promoted to increase rural financial inclusion.
Energy, Climate, and Rural Electrification
Energy remains a cornerstone of the administration’s economic transformation plan. The 23-MW Jambur Solar Park, commissioned last year, is already powering thousands of households, with another 50-MW hybrid plant being tendered in Jarra Soma. Barrow promised that by the end of 2025, 90% of Gambians would have access to electricity.
To ease household connection costs, the government reduced meter prices from GMD 8,500 to GMD 500 in key areas. The restructuring of NAWEC into two distinct water and electricity companies aims to improve service delivery and accountability.
Barrow also reaffirmed his government’s environmental commitment, highlighting the establishment of the Niumi Biosphere Reserve and the addition of 29 protected forests covering 2,591 hectares. Coastal protection projects are underway in Bakau, Banjul, and Sanyang, alongside flood mitigation works in urban centers.
Infrastructure Boom: Roads, Ports, and Stadiums
The President claimed that over 910 kilometers of roads have been constructed since 2017, with several flagship projects — including the OIC Highway, Kiang West roads, and Banjul Urban Roads — expected to be completed by late 2025.
Port modernization is being spearheaded by Alport Banjul, a joint venture with the Turkish firm Albayrak, while plans for a deep-sea terminal in Sanyang are advancing. Two new ferries have been procured, and a major reorganization of the Banjul-Barra route is in progress.
In the aviation sector, Gambia International Airlines reported a GMD 14.8 million profit last year, and a new national carrier is under negotiation. Meanwhile, construction of a second national stadium in Farato is underway, supported by China’s commitment to rehabilitate the Banjul stadium.
Health and Education: Access vs. Equity
In healthcare, Barrow’s speech cited notable progress: the construction of six new health facilities, procurement of 32 ambulances, and installation of solar-powered labs in 11 regional hospitals. The National Health Insurance Scheme is being rolled out to more public facilities.
Yet, the President acknowledged continued shortages in medical staff, specialists, and drug supply chains. Recruitment and incentives for rural healthcare workers remain top priorities.
In education, special attention is being given to technical and vocational training. New teacher training programs, STEM curriculum reforms, and the construction of two technical teacher training institutes were announced. Special needs education will also expand with inclusive classrooms and dedicated staff.
Jobs and Migration: The Youth Dilemma
The President acknowledged the complex challenge of youth unemployment and irregular migration. National service and TVET programs have been scaled up, and the Skills, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Fund now stands at GMD 396 million. Start-up grants and microfinance are being extended to women and returning migrants.
However, the exodus of young Gambians via irregular routes continues. Bilateral labor agreements with Spain, Saudi Arabia, and cruise ship operators aim to create safe migration alternatives.
Gambia on the Global Stage
As Chair of the OIC and a returning member of the UN Human Rights Council, The Gambia has embraced a robust diplomatic posture. The President used his platform to advocate for peace in the Middle East and reiterated his country’s position as a human rights advocate at the ICJ, particularly in the Rohingya genocide case against Myanmar.
Morocco opened a full embassy in Banjul, and Côte d’Ivoire established an honorary consulate, underscoring growing diplomatic interest in The Gambia as a stable and credible partner in the region.
A Nation Reflects at 60
This year’s address coincided with The Gambia’s Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years of independence. Barrow called for national unity and collective execution of development plans. “There is no magic formula,” he said. “We must act with sincerity, capacity, and resolve.”
As elections near and political opposition gains momentum, the President’s call for inclusive governance and performance-based civil service reform struck both an aspirational and cautionary note.
For a country still grappling with its past and facing the uncertainties of a globalized world, the 2025 State of the Nation Address was both a milestone and a mirror — reflecting Gambia’s challenges, opportunities, and the enduring hope of its people.
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