By: Fatou Krubally
The opposition Gambia Action Party (GAP) has sounded an alarm over renewed concerns about the fate of Gambia’s offshore oil reserves, following a controversial audio clip from exiled former President Yahya Jammeh.
In a strongly worded statement, GAP leader Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly warned that the revelations coupled with a recent interview on QTV’s State of Affairs with Petroleum Commission Director General Jerreh Barrow have left the public anxious and uncertain about the management of the country’s oil resources.
“Gambians deserve full disclosure,” Batchilly declared. “Our oil wells cannot be treated as political property or mortgaged in secret deals.” He called on the Ministry of Petroleum to clarify whether The Gambia’s oil blocks are being compromised or shared unfairly with neighboring Senegal and other foreign companies.
Batchilly outlined specific demands, including a comprehensive public report on the status of The Gambia’s offshore oil blocks, a National Assembly hearing to probe Jammeh’s claims, and immediate clarifications from the government regarding any alleged covert deals.
“This is not the time for silence,” he said. “The government must either confirm or debunk these serious allegations with evidence.” He also urged a public sensitization campaign to inform Gambians about the oil sector’s current status and benefits to the nation.
GAP’s statement warns that failure to address these concerns could jeopardize The Gambia’s economic future and national sovereignty. “If Senegal is indeed encroaching on our oil reserves, it is an act of economic aggression,” Batchilly emphasized. “If not, the government must set the record straight.”
The party vowed to continue holding the government accountable and called on civil society and the media to join in demanding transparency. “The time for answers is now,” Batchilly concluded. “Silence is not an option.”
