By: Fatou Krubally
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence and Security has raised red flags over significant underfunding in the 2026 budget estimates for the Ministry of Defence and the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), warning that key operational and welfare needs may not be met if allocations remain unchanged.
According to the Committee’s consolidated report, the Ministry of Defence recorded no actual savings for the upcoming fiscal year. However, lawmakers noted that both Basic Salary and Allowances were overestimated by the Ministry of Finance due to what the Committee described as an internal calculation error. As a result, D25.2 million originally budgeted for Basic Salary saw an adjustment of D8.9 million, while Allowances initially set at D44.7 million were also reduced by D17.9 million.
Despite these adjustments, the Committee stressed that the largest concerns emerged from the Gambia Armed Forces, which reported that the 2026 ceiling allocation is inadequate to maintain TaCOS, the Terms and Conditions of Service that cover rent allowances for soldiers. GAF officials warned that without an increment, they will be unable to sustain these payments, further noting that risk allowances planned for next year also remain unfunded.
In addition, GAF requested D26.2 million to replace worn-out uniforms and protective clothing, citing deterioration caused by frequent washing. Only D6 million was allocated, leaving a shortfall of over D20 million. The Committee further highlighted that the Food and Food Services budget line was under-budgeted by D5 million, while critical operational lines such as Arms and Ammunition and Training were “significantly underfunded.”
The Gambia Navy also raised serious concerns, particularly over the budget for fuel, maintenance, and spare parts for its aging fleet. Naval officials told the Committee that most boats are in poor condition, limiting patrol capability at a time when illegal fishing activity is on the rise. Reduced surveillance at sea, they warned, contributes to increasing illegal operations, which in turn is partly driving the rising cost of fish in local markets.
The report underscores that these budget gaps risk undermining national security and troop welfare if not urgently addressed. The Committee called for a reassessment of defence allocations to ensure that the armed forces remain operationally ready and capable of responding to growing security challenges.
The findings form part of the Consolidated Report of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee on the 2026 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, tabled in November 2025.
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By: Fatou Krubally The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence and Security has raised red flags over significant underfunding in…
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