Gambia Armed Forces, Marina Parade, Banjul (2026)

10/08/2026

GAF CONGRATULATES MAJOR MOMODOU A JALLOW ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE SENIOR COMMAND AND STAFF COURSE AT HORTON COLLEGE

The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) congratulates Major Momodou Amadou Jallow of the Directorate of Communications and Information Technology (DOC/IT) on the successful completion of the Senior Command and Staff Course 3 (SC 3) at the Horton Command and Staff College (HCSC), Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The Senior Command and Staff Course is a rigorous programme designed to provide mid-career officers with advanced professional military education. The programme was delivered concurrently with a Master’s Degree in International Relations, Diplomacy and Security Cooperation, in collaboration with the Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. The course covered key areas including command and leadership, operational planning, strategic studies, international relations, diplomacy, and security cooperation.

During the programme, Major Jallow distinguished himself through exceptional academic and professional performance, thus earning two prestigious awards. He won the ‘Best Allied Student’ award in recognition of his outstanding performance among all the allied officers in the course. He also won the ‘Commandant’s Best Research Paper’ award for producing the best research paper/thesis among the graduating cohort of the College. These achievements are a testament to Major Jallow’s dedication, intellectual capacity, professionalism, discipline, and commitment to continuous development. They also bring honour to the Armed Forces and reflect the high standards of excellence expected of GAF officers.

The GAF High Command extends its heartfelt congratulations to the senior officer on this remarkable accomplishment and wishes him continued success as he returns to home to duty.

10/08/2026

UPDATE: GAF CONGRATULATES TWO MORE OF ITS PERSONNEL AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF STUDIES IN CHINA

The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) is pleased to welcome home two (2) more of its personnel after successful completing their military courses in the People’s Republic of China. The GAF High Command takes pride in these significant achievements by Major Omar Corr and Warrant Officer Class 2 Dampha Modou Lamin. They represented the Armed Forces and the Republic of The Gambia as worthy ambassadors during their studies overseas.

It may be noteworthy to state that Major Omar Corr successfully completed a one-year full-time Computer and Network Technology programme at the Army Engineering University of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), China from September 2025 to July 2026. During the course of the academic programme, he was also awarded a Certificate of Honor for securing the Third Prize in the 1st Wisdom & Harmony Science and Technology Innovation Competition. The award was given in recognition of Major Corr’s outstanding performance and innovative contribution during the competition.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Dampha Modou Lamin successfully completed an 11-month Chinese Language and Cultural Course at the College of International Studies, NUDT, Kunshan Campus, China, from 1 September 2025 to 31 July 2026. The course focused on the Chinese language, military philosophy, cultural exchange, and tactical industry studies.

The GAF High Command commends them for their dedication, discipline, and successful completion of their respective programmes. The achievements not only contribute to their professional development but also reflect positively on the Gambia Armed Forces and the Republic of The Gambia.

08/08/2026

A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE GAF AT SANDHURST

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), Major General Ousman Gomez, accompanied by H.E. Dr. Fatou Bensouda, Gambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and Major Ebrima Ceesay, Military Assistant to the CDS, attended the Sovereign Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom yesterday.

The delegation had the opportunity to engage with senior British military officials during the prestigious occasion.

The parade also marked the successful graduation of Cadet Omar Touray of The GAF, who completed 44 weeks of rigorous training at the renowned Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and proudly participated in the passing-out ceremony.

This occasion holds particular significance as it marks the first time the Chief of Defence Staff of The Gambia Armed Forces has attended the Sovereign’s Parade in the United Kingdom, underscoring the longstanding and growing professional ties between The Gambia and the United Kingdom.
The father of Cadet Omar Touray was also in attendance to witness the momentous occasion.

Congratulations to Cadet Omar Touray on this remarkable achievement, and best wishes as he continues his service to The Gambia.

06/08/2026

Chief of Defence Staff Pays Courtesy Call on The Gambia High Commissioner to the United Kingdom -

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Gambia Armed Forces, Major General Ousman Gomez, accompanied by his Military Assistant, Major Ebrima Ceesay, today paid a courtesy call on Her Excellency Dr. Fatou Bensouda, High Commissioner of the Republic of The Gambia to the United Kingdom.

During the meeting, Major General Gomez noted that it is a long-standing tradition of the Gambia Armed Forces to pay courtesy visits to Gambian diplomatic missions whenever official travel takes them abroad. He said the visit reflected the Armed Forces' continued commitment to this cherished tradition.

The CDS also paid tribute to Her Excellency Dr. Bensouda's distinguished service to The Gambia and the international community. He highlighted her contributions in various national leadership roles, including within the Judiciary, the Department of Public Prosecutions, and as Solicitor General and Attorney General, as well as her outstanding service at the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing her as a proud daughter of the nation.

Major General Gomez explained that the delegation is in the United Kingdom at the invitation of the British Armed Forces to attend the 253rd Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The visit forms part of the enduring military and security partnership between The Gambia and the United Kingdom, which continues to support the Gambia Armed Forces through training programmes, military advisory support, and joint engagements.

In her remarks, Her Excellency Dr. Fatou Bensouda warmly welcomed the delegation and expressed confidence in the leadership of Major General Gomez. She conveyed her pleasure at receiving the delegation and requested that the CDS extend her warm greetings to His Excellency President Adama Barrow, Commander-in-Chief of the Gambia Armed Forces, as well as to all serving men and women of the Armed Forces.

The High Commissioner also commended the CDS and his Military Assistant for their excellent coordination with the High Commission ahead of the visit. She reaffirmed the Mission's commitment to supporting and facilitating the work of the Gambia Armed Forces in collaboration with the British High Commission in Banjul.

Her Excellency will accompany the CDS to the 253rd Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where Gambian Officer Cadet Omar Touray will participate. During his visit, Major General Gomez is also expected to hold further official engagements and interact with members of the Gambian community in the United Kingdom.
The meeting ended with breakfast and exchange of gift.

05/08/2026

DCDS RECEIVES ‘REWARD’ PROJECT DELEGATION AT THE DHQ

The Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (DCDS), Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), Brigadier General Sait Njie, on Wednesday 5 August 2026, received in audience, representatives of the Regional Resilience Rice Value Chain Development (REWARD) Project under the Ministry of Agriculture, in his office at the Defence Headquarters in Banjul.

As part of the highlights of the interface, the delegation briefed the DCDS on the Project and its proposed intervention areas to enhance GAF’s existing rice cultivation and production activities.

Supported by the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and ECOWAS, the REWARD Project aims to increase rice production and productivity in The Gambia. Their intervention will greatly contribute to the GAF’s food self-sufficiency drive, reducing its reliance on imported rice while preparing personnel for life-after-service.

The courtesy visit underscores the importance of collaboration between the security and agriculture sectors in advancing national development objectives and ensuring long-term security.

05/08/2026

2 INFANTRY BATTALION COMPLETES FOUR WEEKS OF INTENSIVE COUNTER TERRORISM TRAINING

The 2 Infantry Battalion (2 Inf Bn) in Farefenni, on Tuesday, 3rd August 2026, successfully completed a four-week Intensive Counter Terrorism training. The training, which consisted of 28 Gambia National Army (GNA) personnel, was conducted in pursuance of the 2026 Training Directives of the Commander of the GNA.

Speaking at the ceremony, Second Lieutenant Yusupha Jammeh, Training Officer, 2 Inf Bn, commended the participants for their resilience and dedication throughout the course of the training. He emphasized that while the graduation marked the end of the training, it should be seen as the beginning of their responsibilities as trainers. He urged them to share the knowledge and skills they have gained with their colleagues and apply them effectively in operational contexts.

The Commanding Officer (CO) of 2 Inf Bn, Lieutenant Colonel Ebrima I Krubally, in his keynote address, expressed confidence in the quality and impact of the training. He reaffirmed that the lessons had been well understood, both in theory and in practice, and stressed the strategic importance of the training in enhancing national security preparedness.

The CO also used the opportunity to advise soldiers to completely avoid partisan politics and use social media platforms responsibly. He urged them to remain focused on the core mandates while upholding the standards of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF).

At the end of the ceremony, certificates of Merit were presented to the three overall best graduates in recognition of their outstanding performance: Corporal Makasuba Momodou, emerged as the overall best graduate, Lance Corporal Gibba Landing, took the second-best position, whilst Sergeant Jarju Yankuba, emerged as third overall best participants.

04/08/2026

GAMBIA NAVY INTERCEPTS DISTRESSED SUSPECTED MIGRANT BOAT AT BUNYADU

The Gambia Navy on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, intercepted a suspected migrant boat in distress off the coast of Bunyadu at approximately 12:10pm. Acting swiftly to safeguard lives at sea, personnel of the Navy conducted a rescue operation and safely transported all the occupants to the Naval Command in Banjul. The boat was carrying 60 suspected irregular migrants at the time of the interception.

Preliminary screening indicates that the rescued persons comprise 55 Gambians, 3 Senegalese, 1 Guinean, and 1 Nigerian (41 men, 10 women, and 9 minors).

Amongst them was a heavily pregnant lady, believed to be due for delivery, who was immediately referred to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital for urgent medical attention. The remaining rescued persons are safe and are being processed in accordance with national laws and established humanitarian procedures.

The Gambia Navy remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting lives at sea, safeguarding the country's maritime domain, and working closely with national and international partners to address irregular migration and other maritime security challenges.

04/08/2026

GAF OFFICER GRADUATES AS ‘BEST ALLIED STUDENT’ FROM HORTON COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE

The Gambia Armed Forces wishes to congratulate Navy Lieutenant Sadibou Jawara on successfully completing the Junior Staff Course at the Horton Command and Staff College, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Lieutenant Jawara won the ‘Best Allied Student’ award, an award presented to the top-performing international/allied officers on the course. The award recognizes excellence in academics, leadership, participation, and overall contribution throughout the program.

The Junior Staff Course is a 6 – month long professional development program designed for junior officers of the armed forces. It focuses on staff duties and procedures, operational planning, military decision-making, command and staff responsibilities, tactical skills, small-unit tactics, and operational art. It also exposes officers to leadership in contemporary operations, professional military education, military law, logistics, communication, and joint/interagency cooperation.

Furthermore, the course prepares these junior officers to effectively serve in staff appointments and command roles, with an emphasis on critical thinking, planning, and the application of military doctrine.

The Horton Academy (also known as the Horton Senior Command and Staff College) is the highest military training institution in Sierra Leone. It was established in 2003 and offers tactical, leadership, and theoretical training including management and strategic decision-making courses.

03/08/2026

GAF ENDS FIVE-DAY TRAINING ON MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM AT THE JOINT OFFICERS’ MESS

The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), on Friday, 31 July 2026, held the closing ceremony of a five-day Military Justice System training at the Joint Officers’ Mess in Kotu. The training was conducted under the theme, "Strengthening Military Justice, Operational Effectiveness and the Rule of Law".

The course aimed to enhance participants’ understanding and application of military justice procedures while promoting operational effectiveness and upholding the rule of law within the GAF.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Mukhtar Adesunkanmi, Political Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat, noted that participants explored issues central to professional military service during the five-day training. He highlighted military justice, operational effectiveness, the rule of law, and International Humanitarian Law, emphasizing that these are not merely legal concepts but guiding principles that inform decision-making, strengthen discipline, protect human dignity, and enhance operational effectiveness.

Commenting on the participants’ performance, the facilitators expressed appreciation for their openness to learning, willingness to share experiences, and enthusiasm throughout the course. They noted that such commitment reflects a genuine dedication to strengthening institutions that serve the people of The Gambia. They expressed hope that the training would mark the beginning of continued learning, collaboration, and institutional reform. They also thanked the GAF High Command for its partnership, dedication, and warm hospitality, which made their stay both comfortable and memorable.

Participants were urged to share the knowledge and practical tools acquired during the training with their colleagues and to apply them within their respective Services and Units to further strengthen the GAF.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, the Chief of Naval Staff, Commodore Sambou Barrow, described the training as an important milestone that would go a long way in building the capacity of GAF personnel for the effective ex*****on of their assigned duties and responsibilities. According to him, professional development is a continuous process, and the institution has a responsibility to ensure that the knowledge gained during the course is applied across various commands and legal processes.

He noted that throughout the training, participants underwent various sessions aimed primarily at harmonizing, enhancing, and strengthening the legal and operational capacity of the Gambia Armed Forces' military justice system.

The Naval Chief further stated that the training is expected to equip participants to advise commanders on the lawful conduct of military operations under the Law of Armed Conflict and to ensure the protection of civilians and other protected persons during operations. He added that the training was also designed to enhance participants’ understanding of command responsibility and individual criminal liability for violations of international and domestic law.

Commodore Barrow further stated that the course demonstrated the strong partnership and cooperation between the Gambia Armed Forces and the Commonwealth Secretariat in the areas of knowledge sharing and capacity building. He congratulated all participants on successfully completing the training and wished them success in their future operations.

In a similar vein, the General Officer expressed sincere appreciation to the Commonwealth Secretariat, through the Political Officer, for providing this important training package.

Delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of his fellow participants, Sub Lieutenant Omar K. Jarju expressed gratitude to the facilitators for their guidance and expertise throughout the training. Judge Alan Large was commended for his presentation on Commonwealth Military Justice Principles, Summary Proceedings, Appellate Oversight, Fair Trial Standards, and Judicial Independence. Brigadier General (Prof.) Dan Kuwali was also acknowledged for his lecture on Command Responsibility, Operational Law, and the application of International Humanitarian Law in contemporary operations. The International Committee of the Red Cross was further thanked for its contribution to deepening participants’ understanding of the Law of Armed Conflict and the Protection of Civilians.

The ceremony was marked by the presentation of certificates to participants and a group photograph at the JOM photo stand.

01/08/2026

GAF WELCOMES ITS OFFICERS AFTER SUCCESSFULL COMPLETION OF STUDIES IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) wishes to inform the general public that several of its officers who were attending military courses in the People’s Republic of China recently returned home after successfully completing their studies. The GAF High Command takes pride in these milestone achievements by the fine gentlemen officers and soldiers who diligently represented the Armed Forces and the Republic of The Gambia as worthy ambassadors overseas.

The officers are: Lt Col Momodou S Jallow, Major Nuha William MS Jammeh, Captain Malick Colley, Navy Lieutenant Pa Modou Mboob, Lieutenant Saidou Bah, Lieutenant Lamin Gassama, Second Lieutenant Pierre J. Mendy and Corporal Joof Gibriel.

Lt Col Momodou S Jallow, of the Guard Battalion, Fajara Barracks, attended the International Military Cooperation and Exchange Forum at the Army Command College, People’s Republic of China.

Major Nuha William MS Jammeh of the GAF Military Police attended the Intermediate Military Police Command program at the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force Command College, People’s Republic of China. Some of the modules he studied were: Military leadership and Command, Operational planning, Law Enforcement and Security, Counter-Terrorism and Crisis Management, military laws and human rights, Rescue Operations, Art of war, Training and leadership development, Staff work and management.

Captain Malick Colley attended the Junior Command Course at the People’s Liberation Army Engineering University, People’s Republic of China. The junior officer won the ‘Outstanding Overseas Graduate’ award of the Course.

Navy Lieutenant Pa Modou Mboob of the Gambia Navy attended the Naval Command College in Nanjing, People’s Republic of China. Lieutenant Mboob is the first Gambian Naval officer to attend the Intermediate Naval Command Course at the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s prestigious Naval Command College in Nanjing. It might be instructive to state that the institution offers Intermediate Command Courses designed for middle-grade Naval Officers from various Navies. It provides training on the foundational principles of Combined Naval Arms and Joint Maritime Operations, International Law, and Military Strategy.

Lieutenant Saidou Bah and Second Lieutenant Pierre J. Mendy studied at the People’s Liberation Army Infantry Academy Shijiazhuang Division, People’s Republic of China. Lieutenant Bah underwent the Junior Infantry Commanding Course while Second Lieutenant Mendy underwent the Junior Military Police Command Course. He was awarded Certificate of Honour in recognition of his outstanding performance during the course.

Lieutenant Lamin Gassama attended the Artillery Junior Command Course, Army Arms University, Jiangsu province Nanjing campus, People’s Republic of China. The course is designed to build Junior Commanders’ competence in the organization and ex*****on of artillery support through practical and theoretical instruction. He graduated as the Second Best student of his Course and won the Excellent Student award.

Furthermore, Corporal Joof Gibriel did the HJT-008 Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) Equipment Operation Course at the Army Arms University, Jiang Su province Nanjing campus, People’s Republic of China. The course is designed to develop competent missile operators and commanders capable of effectively employing Anti-Tank Guided Missile systems in tactical and operational environments. It also aimed at enhancing professional military knowledge, leadership skills, and international military cooperation.

While the GAF High Command welcomes home these gallant officers of the Armed Forces, we wish to heartily congratulate them on their well-deserved achievements. The Command also urges them to share the knowledge and experience gained with their comrades in their various Services and Units.

Gambia Armed Forces

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