AGP Executive Report

Sports & Youth Development: The Gambia is set to host the 2026 African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 2 Games in Banjul from 7–13 June, bringing under-20 athletes for events like athletics, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, boxing and traditional sports—expected to boost sports tourism and local business. Football Spotlight: Senegalese midfielder Bara Sapoko Ndiaye’s meteoric rise from Gambia’s Gambino Stars Africa academy to Bayern Munich and Senegal’s World Cup squad is making waves after a breakthrough run that included a friendly vs the USA. Local Football Results: Brikama-based Berewuleng beat The Gambia Police Force 2-1 to extend their Women’s League 1 lead, while TMT Ladies kept momentum with a 2-0 win over Fortune. Arts & Culture: A cultural day at St. Therese’s celebrated heritage and unity through traditional attire and performances. Media & Society: A study highlights how women in Gambian journalism face “exit from power” barriers, with leadership gaps across state, print and online outlets. Community & Rehabilitation: Jollof Care Center’s Eid-ul-Adha celebration for Mile 2 inmates brought food, volunteers, and live entertainment including Gambian performers.

World Cup Focus: Iran’s national team is set to depart Antalya for Mexico’s Tijuana on Saturday (June 6) despite US visa uncertainty, with a final behind-closed-doors warm-up against Mali in Turkey on Thursday. Sports & Youth: The Gambia is preparing to host the 2026 AUSC Region 2 Games in Banjul (June 7–13), spotlighting under-20 athletics and other disciplines, with hopes for sports tourism and athlete exposure. Local Football: Berewuleng beat The Gambia Police Force 2-1 to keep a big lead in Women’s League 1, while Today Makes Tomorrow continued their strong run with a 2-0 win. Arts & Culture: Brikama’s cultural scene gets a boost as St. Therese’s Cultural Day keeps traditions alive through student performances and traditional attire. Fashion & Lifestyle: Big, bold sunglasses are back in style, with oversized shapes and genderless appeal driving the trend. Community in Entertainment: Jollof Care Center’s Eid-ul-Adha celebration for Mile 2 inmates brought chefs, volunteers, and live performers into the prison for music and freestyle sessions. Media & Society: A study highlights why women “exit” power in Gambian newsrooms, pointing to opaque promotion, harassment, and informal influence.

Women’s League Football: Berewuleng kept their momentum with a 2-1 win over Gambia Police Force, moving 6 points clear at the top after Sarah Jarju scored twice. Sports Journalism: GNOC wrapped up a five-day sports admin course for 25 sport journalists, funded by Olympic Solidarity, aimed at strengthening sports media capacity. Cultural Day: St. Therese’s marked “History Is Our Identity” with a cultural day celebrating traditional attire and unity, urging students to stay proud of their roots. Prison Rehabilitation Through Food & Music: Jollof Care Center, with chefs and partners, brought Tobaski joy to Mile 2 inmates using a prison kitchen upgrade and live performances by Gambian artists. Telecom & Economy: Africell won Gambia’s Largest Taxpayer Award for the 7th time, highlighting long-term tax contributions and investment. Coffee Culture: Three women shared their journey into coffee beans, roasting and pouring—an uplifting local spotlight on craft and entrepreneurship. Media & Gender: A study says women in Gambian journalism face a “system” that blocks exit from power, with leadership gaps across state and private outlets. Fashion Buzz: Big, bold sunglasses are back in style, with oversized frames and genderless appeal driving the trend.

Sports Journalism Training: The GNOC wrapped up a five-day Olympic Solidarity course for 25 Gambian sport journalists, covering Olympic values, sports medicine, governance and communication. Cultural Day in Kanifing: St. Therese’s school kept “History Is Our Identity” alive through a Cultural Day celebrating traditional attire and unity. Gambia Hosts Youth Games: The Gambia is set to host the 2026 AUSC Region 2 Games in Banjul from 7–13 June, bringing under-20 athletes and multiple disciplines including athletics, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, boxing and traditional sports. Women in Newsrooms: A new study argues women in Gambian journalism face a “system” that blocks exit from power, citing low leadership representation and barriers like opaque promotion and harassment. Athletics Spotlight: Gambian runner Sanu Jallow set an NCAA women’s 800m record (1:57.74) for the University of Arkansas. Film Buzz (Gambia in the Spotlight): Kevin Kunta—Gambian-born MMA fighter and Ram Charan’s bodyguard—went viral after handling a fan breach at a “Peddi” event.

Gambia Sports Spotlight: The Gambia is set to host the 2026 African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 2 Games in Banjul from 7–13 June, bringing together under-20 athletes across Southern and Eastern Africa for athletics, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, boxing and more—plus traditional African sports—expected to boost sports tourism and local business. Media & Society: A new study on gender inequality in Gambian journalism argues women are not blocked from entering the field so much as pushed out of leadership, citing opaque promotions, gendered assignments, harassment, and weak protection. Arts & Culture: Eid-ul Adha coverage turns reflective, stressing righteousness and inner reform over ritual alone. International Arts/Entertainment (Gambia link): Viral Indian film buzz around Ram Charan’s “Peddi” has put Gambian-born MMA fighter Kevin Kunta in the spotlight after he handled a fan breach during a promo event.

Gambian Sports Spotlight: Sanu Jallow (Arkansas) set a new NCAA women’s 800m record, clocking 1:57.74 and cementing her place among the event’s elite. Viral Culture & Diaspora: Kevin Kunta—Ram Charan’s Gambian bodyguard and an MMA fighter—kept a fan from rushing the actor at a Peddi event, turning his Gambian roots into instant internet buzz. Arts & Music: Ezra Collective announced its album Here Because Of Hope and shared the Lagos-shot video for “Only Love,” featuring Pa Salieu and drawing on West African (including Gambian) musical influences. Local Governance & Power: NAWEC’s electricity crisis messaging faced pushback, with critics saying outages are wider than claimed and communication is misleading. Regional Creative Education: Liberia won the WIPO-ARIPO Regional IP High School Club Awards; The Gambia placed first runner-up with a creative drama project. Business/Tech: Legend Internet reassured investors after weaker interim earnings, pointing to fibre expansion and improved future profitability.

Gambian Sports: Sanu Jallow (University of Arkansas) set an NCAA women’s 800m record, running 1:57.74 and cementing her place among the event’s all-time greats. Gambian Politics & Media: The NPP-led alliance hit back at opposition-aligned media over alleged “disinformation” and corruption smears ahead of the December 2026 presidential election. Power & Public Trust: NAWEC MD Saidy said the electricity crisis is driven by technical issues across the OMVG regional power network, while Dr. Ousman Gajigo accused NAWEC of misleading the public and said outages are affecting far more than Greater Banjul and the West Coast. Arts & Music: Ezra Collective announced “Only Love,” featuring Pa Salieu, with a Lagos-shot video and an 18 September album release. International Spotlight (Gambia-linked): MSC confirmed an attack on its MSC Sariska V near Iraq, amid claims tied to a US disabling of a Gambia-flagged ship in the Gulf. Governance: The National Assembly submitted its report on assets linked to former President Yahya Jammeh to the government.

Electricity Crisis in Focus: NAWEC MD Saidy says The Gambia’s power outages are a technical, regional OMVG load-sharing issue—not politics—pointing to local generation and solar as buffers, while Government Response to Misinformation: officials condemn online distortions about power cuts and urge national unity. Opposition Pushback: UDP’s media secretary Saikou Camara attacks the Barrow government over alleged corruption and mismanagement across sectors, including energy and health. Local Governance & Accountability: The National Assembly’s Clerk says a report on investigations into former President Yahya Jammeh’s assets has been formally published and sent to key state bodies. Sports & Talent Spotlight: Gambia gaffer Yahya Manneh’s Europe scouting tour continues, and the GFF highlights young Gambian prospects scoring and earning attention abroad. Arts/Entertainment Buzz: Viral interest grows around Ram Charan’s bodyguard Kevin Kunta, described as an MMA fighter from The Gambia.

Gambia Football & Talent Watch: GFF Media reports coach Yahya Manneh’s Europe scouting tour is ongoing, with a new stop in Sweden to watch defender Saul Touray (IFK Stocksund) after earlier trips to Dortmund and Bremen. National Assembly & Accountability: The National Assembly says it has formally submitted and published a report on the inquiry into former President Yahya AJJ Jammeh’s assets, sending copies to key state offices. Electricity Crisis Politics: Dr. Ousman Gajigo (GFA) hits NAWEC over what he calls misleading communication about nationwide power cuts, arguing outages extend beyond Greater Banjul and the West Coast. Opposition Governance Critique: UDP’s Saikou Camara says the Barrow government’s nearly decade record shows corruption and mismanagement across sectors including energy, health, education, and local government. Local Voting Dispute: Dou Sanno denies claims that NPP registered thousands of foreign voters in Kombos, responding to allegations raised by Mamma Kandeh. World Stage (Sports): Iran named a 26-man World Cup squad with 17 home-based players and no Azmoun, while the USMNT beat Senegal 3-2 in a pre-World Cup friendly.

Power & Public Trust: The Gambia government condemned misinformation about power cuts, urging national unity and warning that corruption claims shouldn’t be turned into social-media propaganda. US-Iran Tensions, Gambia Link: CENTCOM says a Gambia-flagged cargo ship, M/V Lian Star, was disabled by a Hellfire missile after ignoring 20+ warnings while trying to sail toward an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman; the ship was left adrift and not boarded. Diplomacy Under Pressure: US and Iran traded messages over a draft ceasefire extension and Strait of Hormuz reopening, but Trump reportedly sent tougher changes, while Iran’s top negotiator said no deal will be approved without securing Iranian rights. Arts & Sport Spotlight: USMNT warmed up for the World Cup with a 3-2 friendly win over Senegal, featuring Christian Pulisic ending a goal drought—an African football moment that will resonate with Gambia’s fans.

Gambia-Flagged Ship Disabled: U.S. Central Command says it disabled the M/V Lian Star in the Gulf of Oman with a Hellfire missile after the crew ignored 20+ warnings while trying to reach an Iranian port, leaving the vessel adrift and “no longer transiting to Iran.” Iran-US Deal Tensions: Iran’s top negotiator says no agreement will be approved unless Iranian people’s rights are secured, while reports say Trump sent back tougher Iran deal language, including concerns over financial relief. Strait of Hormuz Control: Iran says it requires vessels to follow IRGC Navy rules and obtain authorization, warning of strict responses to interference. Lebanon Front: Israel says it has seized the Beaufort fortress in southern Lebanon, its deepest incursion in 26 years, as fighting with Hezbollah continues. Sports (Gambia Connection): The U.S. hosts Senegal in a World Cup warm-up friendly in Charlotte, with Senegal arriving off wins over Peru and Gambia.

Gambia in the spotlight (sports): The Gambia’s Ebou Adams, now back in full fitness for Pompey, featured for 90 minutes as The Gambia faced World Cup-bound Iran in Portugal—an encouraging boost ahead of the country’s 2027 AFCON qualification push. Gambia in the spotlight (football): Iran’s federation has asked FIFA to clarify World Cup visa delays after relocating its training base from Arizona to Tijuana, a move that has affected preparations and travel plans. Gambia in the spotlight (media & music): London jazz group Ezra Collective announced their fourth album, Here Because Of Hope (Sept 18), with a new single “Only Love” featuring British-Gambian rapper Pa Salieu. Gambia travel & lifestyle: TUI is launching direct Birmingham–Banjul flights for winter sun, selling The Gambia’s beaches, wildlife spots and Kunta Kinteh Island to UK travellers. Gambia economy (policy): IMF staff reached staff-level agreement with The Gambia on reviews under the ECF and RSF, despite missed fiscal targets tied to higher 2025 spending. Arts & culture (drums): A feature explores the jembe’s Mandé roots across West Africa, including Gambia, and how the drum lives inside dance and community performance.

Gambia in the spotlight (sports & culture): A World Cup-prep friendly schedule includes Iraq vs Gambia, plus other regional matches, keeping football fans tuned. Music & identity: London jazz collective Ezra Collective announced their fourth album, Here Because Of Hope, for Sept 18, sharing “Only Love” with British-Gambian rapper Pa Salieu—an Afrobeat/jazz/grime blend built around pain-to-joy hope. Traditional arts: A feature breaks down the jembe drum’s Mandé roots across Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Senegal—and Gambia—plus how it sits inside dance-and-drumming ensembles. Media recognition: The Witness Newspaper MD Enyeh Julius Akpovire is set to receive an African Media Personality Award at The Voice Achievers Awards in London on Aug 21. Travel for arts lovers: TUI launches direct Birmingham–Banjul flights for winter sun, pitching The Gambia’s beaches, wildlife spots and Kunta Kinteh Island. Gambia economy (policy): IMF talks in Banjul ended with staff-level agreement on reviews under the ECF and RSF, despite missed fiscal targets.

Gambia in the spotlight: Italian police arrested two Gambians and three other African migrants over the alleged abduction and gang rape of a 32-year-old Colombian tourist in Rome, with suspects charged and more arrests expected. Arts & culture: A tribute piece marks the one-year passing of Kenyan writer Ngugi, reflecting on his legacy and the long fight against colonial silence. Music: London jazz group Ezra Collective announced their fourth album, Here Because Of Hope, for September 18, sharing the Pa Salieu collab “Only Love.” Regional travel & media: Ghana launched an e-visa system and waived visa fees for African passport holders, while The Voice Achievers Award in London will honour The Witness MD Enyeh Julius Akpovire. Gambia-linked community sports: The Gambia Football Federation mourned the late former referee James Mali Joiner, praising his role in zonal football and youth development. Business: IMF staff ended 2026 consultations with staff-level agreement on extended support for The Gambia.

Caribbean Music Buzz: Dancehall star Masicka’s “Sicka Summa” wave keeps rolling, with “Slip and Slide” from the Hill and Gully riddim spreading from the Caribbean to the US, UK, Seychelles—and reaching The Gambia. Gambian Arts & Culture Abroad: Gambian-British-Gambian rapper Pa Salieu features on Ezra Collective’s new album preview “Only Love,” linking Black diaspora sounds like calypso, afrobeat and grime. Mandinka Music Spotlight: Suntou Susso’s Mandinka-traditions concert is set for the UK, blending kora, balafon, drums and sax with a griot-storytelling theme. Sports & Community (Youth Through Play): Giants of Africa hits its Built Within milestone with the 50th community basketball court opening in Lagos, pushing sport-led youth development across Africa. Gambia in the News (Local Sports Legacy): The GFF mourns the passing of former Gambian referee James Mali Joiner, praising his football and youth-development impact in Banjul Central. Gambia Diplomacy: The Foreign Affairs Ministry says it has launched inquiries into social media allegations involving The Gambia’s embassy in Moscow.

Gambia in the spotlight: A Gambian-native MMA star, Kevin Kunta, is drawing attention as Ram Charan’s bodyguard during the promotions for the film Peddi, with fans praising his crowd control and sharp fashion. Culture & arts: In Charlotte, a Mint Museum Africa Day event brought traditional dance, spoken word, and West African fashion to celebrate the African diaspora. Music & dance festival: Nigeria and Ghana hosted the inaugural Purple African Dance Festival, spotlighting Afro House, Amapiano and Afrotech across Lagos, Accra and Abuja. Community sport: Giants of Africa hit a major milestone, unveiling its 50th community basketball court in Lagos as it pushes toward 100 courts across Africa. Gambia-related sports talent: A data-led scouting piece flags 21-year-old Gambian midfielder Mahmudu Bajo as a potential target for Norwich City. Regional travel policy: Ghana launched an e-visa portal and introduced visa-free access for African passport holders, aiming to boost tourism and mobility.