The Gambia National Assembly merges legislative sessions

The National Assembly of The Gambia has announced the merger of its third and fourth ordinary sessions for the 2026 legislative year. The combined sessions are scheduled to run from September 7 to October 29.

Speaker Fabakary Tombong Jatta stated that the decision to merge the sessions was a management move to allow lawmakers to fulfill their parliamentary duties while participating in political activities ahead of the upcoming election period. Jatta emphasized that legislative effectiveness should be measured by the volume of work completed rather than the number of days in session.

The upcoming sessions will focus on three primary areas: rigorous oversight, legal reforms, and the scrutiny of the 2027 national budget. The Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs is expected to present the 2027 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure on September 25.

Key legislative items include the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill 2026, the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2025, and the Intellectual Property Bill 2025. Additionally, members will consider ratifying international instruments related to the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the African Union Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation.