Public Interest Petition Filed at Supreme Court to Protect The Gambia’s Offshore Oil and Gas Resources

A public interest petition was filed last week, December 2nd 2025, before the Supreme Court of The Gambia seeking constitutional and declaratory relief over the State’s handling of offshore oil and gas blocks, including Blocks A2 and A5, and the associated dealings with foreign oil companies.

The petitioner, Mr Ousman Fafa M’Bai, a Gambian and UK qualified lawyer specialising in financial crime, regulation and international asset recovery, is asking the Supreme Court to scrutinise the legality and constitutionality of key decisions taken in relation to The Gambia’s offshore petroleum resources, particularly:

I. The grant of waivers and amendments to licence obligations in favour of foreign operators.
II. The surrender or re demarcation of offshore blocks adjoining the Senegalese border.
III. The adequacy of oversight exercised by the Gambia Petroleum Commission and relevant ministries.
IV. The State’s compliance with constitutional duties to protect the national wealth, ensure transparency, and act in the best interests of the Gambian people.

The petition also seeks orders compelling full disclosure and an independent technical review of exploration and drilling results in the affected blocks, so that Parliament and the public can be properly informed about the true status and potential value of The Gambia’s offshore resources.

“Our offshore resources are a once in a generation opportunity for The Gambia,” said Mr M’Bai. “If decisions affecting billions in potential value have been taken behind closed doors, without proper transparency or due diligence, then the courts must step in. The Constitution requires that our national wealth be managed in trust for present and future generations, not quietly bargained away.”

The petition raises serious concerns about:

I. Transparency and accountability in negotiations and dealings with international oil companies and their joint venture partners.
II. The absence of timely and complete disclosure of seismic, drilling and reservoir data to Gambian authorities and the public.
III. The potential loss or dilution of The Gambia’s entitlement in transboundary or adjoining reservoirs close to the Senegalese frontier.
IV. Whether regulatory bodies have adequately discharged their statutory and fiduciary obligations.

“This is not a partisan case,” Mr M’Bai added. “It is about the rule of law, about whether our institutions have acted lawfully and in good faith, and about whether Gambians are being told the truth regarding our offshore oil story. If there has been no wrongdoing, a transparent, independent review will clear the air. If there have been failures, they must be corrected before it is too late.”

If successful, the petition could result in:

I. Court ordered disclosure of key agreements, amendments, waivers and technical reports.
II. A judicial declaration on the standards of transparency and oversight required in managing The Gambia’s natural resources.
III. Remedial directions to relevant authorities to protect the country’s position in any current or future negotiations over offshore petroleum resources.

The case is expected to attract significant domestic and international attention, given its implications for governance, investor accountability and resource justice in The Gambia and the wider MSGBC Basin.

 A public interest petition was filed last week, December 2nd 2025, before the Supreme Court of The Gambia seeking constitutional and declaratory relief over the State’s handling of offshore oil and gas blocks, including Blocks A2 and A5, and the associated dealings with foreign oil companies. The petitioner, Mr Ousman Fafa M’Bai, a Gambian and The Fatu Network