University of The Gambia student protests

Students at the University of The Gambia (UTG) staged demonstrations at the Kanifing and Faraba campuses regarding deteriorating conditions at the Faraba Campus. Protesters, led by Student Union President Ismaila Fadera, cited grievances including the prolonged closure of the campus cafeteria, shortages of potable water, poor sanitation, unreliable internet connectivity, and inadequate transportation services.

In response to the unrest and a petition presented to the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, the Gambian government and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) announced several interventions.

Following an assessment by a delegation led by Professor Gomez, several measures have been implemented. To address transportation, the Gambia Transport Service Company has deployed 20 buses. Regarding water access, officials noted that while supply volumes are sufficient, the water requires filtration; interim measures include the installation of water dispensers, with a permanent filtration system being arranged.

To improve connectivity, technical teams are working to extend fiber-optic capacity to the Schools of Agriculture and Law. Additionally, ministry officials stated that campus cafeterias are now fully operational. Despite these government assurances, student leaders emphasized that the situation has already caused significant disruptions to lectures and examinations.

Recent reports indicate that hundreds of students continue to protest, with the Students’ Union stating that grievances affect more than 12,000 students. While lectures have resumed following government promises, student protesters have expanded their demands to include the resignations of Vice Chancellor Herbert Robinson and the director of student affairs, accusing them of failing to perform their duties.