Following his victory in the presidential election on 1 December 2016, the newly elected President Adama Barrow appointed a new cabinet to succeed the cabinet of Yahya Jammeh, his predecessor. Barrow was formally inaugurated on 19 January 2017 at the embassy of the Gambia in Dakar, Senegal, and was able to return the Gambia on 26 January. He made the bulk of appointments in February 2017, and conducted major reshuffles in June 2018, March 2019 and May 2022.
Cabinet of Adama Barrow | |
|---|---|
 Cabinet of The Gambia | |
.jpg) Adama Barrow in 2018 | |
| Date formed | 19 January 2017 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Adama Barrow |
| Vice President | Fatoumata Tambajang (2017–2018) Ousainou Darboe (2018–2019) Isatou Touray (2019–2022) Badara Joof (2022–2023) Muhammad B. S. Jallow (2023–present) |
| No. of ministers | 18 |
| Member parties | National People's Party National Reconciliation Party Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction |
| Status in legislature | Coalition government 29 / 58 (50%) |
| Opposition parties | United Democratic Party People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism |
| Opposition leader | Fabakary Jatta |
| History | |
| Elections | 2016 presidential election 2021 presidential election |
| Legislature terms | 5th National Assembly 6th National Assembly |
| Predecessor | Cabinet of Yahya Jammeh |
History
editIt was announced that Barrow would return to The Gambia from Senegal on 26 January 2017, having been sworn-in at the Gambian embassy there on 19 January due to the 2016–17 Gambian constitutional crisis.[1] He said that his ministers would be announced on 31 January, and that they would have to declare their assets before taking up office.[2] The names were in fact only revealed at their swearing-in on 1 February.[3] Among the appointments were UDP treasurer & Professional Accountant Amadou Sanneh, women's rights activist Isatou Touray, UN prosecutor & Lawyer Ba Tambadou, Main Opposition Party leader (UDP) & Senior Barrister Ousainou Darboe, NRP leader Hamat Bah, former Agriculture minister Omar A. Jallow, and GMC leader & lawyer Mai Fatty.[3]
Following the swearing-in ceremony, Barrow promised to appoint the remaining cabinet members by the end of the week.[4] There were no members of the People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) appointed to the cabinet because they decline positions offered to them, though both Sidia Jatta and Halifa Sallah were to be part of Barrow's new think tank, Agency For Sustainable Socio-Economic Development (ASSED).[5] Five further appointments to the cabinet were made on 22 February, with Fatoumata Tambajang becoming Minister of Women's Affairs overseeing the Office of Vice-President.[6]
Tambajang was formally sworn-in as Vice-President on 9 November 2017, after Barrow passed a constitutional amendment regarding the age limit.[7] The first alteration was on 10 November, when Mai Fatty was relieved of his appointment as Minister of the Interior.[8] He later denied that he was relieved due to being involved in corruption.[9] 29 June 2018 saw a major cabinet reshuffle announced, with Ousainou Darboe becoming Vice-President, Mamadou Tangara becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mambury Njie becoming Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, with several other shuffles and appointments.[10] The new ministers were sworn-in during a ceremony on 9 July 2018.[11]
Composition
edit| Cabinet | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Incumbent | Party | Entered office | Left office | |||
| Cabinet ministers | |||||||
| President | Adama Barrow | NPP | 19 January 2017 | Incumbent | |||
| Vice-President Minister of Women's Affairs |
Fatoumata Tambajang | Independent | 22 February 2017 | 9 July 2018 | |||
| Ousainou Darboe | UDP | 9 July 2018 | 15 March 2019[12] | ||||
| Isatou Touray | Independent | 15 March 2019[12] | 4 May 2022 | ||||
| Badara Joof | Independent | 4 May 2022 | 17 January 2023 | ||||
| Muhammad B. S. Jallow | Independent | 24 February 2023 | Incumbent | ||||
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Ousainou Darboe | UDP | 1 February 2017 | 9 July 2018 | |||
| Mamadou Tangara | Independent | 9 July 2018 | Incumbent | ||||
| Minister of Defence | Sheikh Omar Faye | Independent | 22 August 2019 | Incumbent | |||
| Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs | Amadou Sanneh | UDP | 1 February 2017 | 9 July 2018 | |||
| Mambury Njie | Independent | 9 July 2018 | Incumbent | ||||
| Minister of Tourism and Culture | Hamat Bah | NRP | 1 February 2017 | Incumbent | |||
| Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology | Badara Joof | Independent | 22 February 2017 | 4 May 2022 | |||
| Pierre Gomez | Independent | 4 May 2022 | Incumbent | ||||
| Minister of Basic and Secondary Education | Claudiana Cole | Independent | 22 February 2017 | Incumbent | |||
| Minister of Health and Social Welfare | Saffie Lowe Ceesay | Independent | 22 February 2017 | 9 July 2018 | |||
| Isatou Touray | Independent | 9 July 2018 | 27 March 2019 | ||||
| Ahmadou Lamin Samateh | Independent | 27 March 2019 | Incumbent | ||||
| Minister of Agriculture | Omar A. Jallow | PPP | 1 February 2017 | 9 July 2018 | |||
| Lamin N. Dibba | UDP | 9 July 2018 | 15 March 2019[12] | ||||
| Demba Sabally | NPP | 4 May 2022 | Incumbent | ||||
| Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment | Isatou Touray | Independent | 1 February 2017 | 9 July 2018 | |||
| Amadou Sanneh | UDP | 9 July 2018 | 15 March 2019[12] | ||||
| Minister of Forestry, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources | Lamin N. Dibba | NCP | 1 February 2017 | 15 March 2019[12] | |||
| Rohey John Manjang | Independent | 4 May 2022 | Incumbent | ||||
| Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources [a] | James F. P. Gomez | PPP | 1 February 2017 | 4 May 2022 | |||
| Musa Drammeh | Independent | 4 May 2022 | Incumbent | ||||
| Minister of Energy and Petroleum | Fafa Sanyang FGS | Independent | 10 April 2017 | 4 May 2022 | |||
| Abdoulie Jobe | Independent | 4 May 2022 | Incumbent | ||||
| Minister of Lands and Regional Government | Lamin N. Dibba | UDP | 1 February 2017 | 9 July 2018 | |||
| Musa Drammeh | Independent | 9 July 2018 | 4 May 2022 | ||||
| Abba Sanyang | Independent | 4 May 2022 | 1 July 2023 | ||||
| Ousman Sowe | Independent | 1 July 2023 | 1 September 2023 | ||||
| Minister of Justice Attorney General |
Ba Tambadou | Independent | 7 February 2017 | 30 June 2020 | |||
| Dawda A. Jallow | Independent | 30 June 2020 | Incumbent | ||||
| Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure | Demba Ali Jawo | Independent | 22 February 2017 | 9 July 2018 | |||
| Ebrima Sillah | Independent | 9 July 2018 | |||||
| Minister of the Interior | Mai Fatty | GMC | 1 February 2017 | 10 November 2017 | |||
| Habib Drammeh | Independent | 4 December 2017 | 8 January 2018 | ||||
| Ebrima Mballow | Independent | 8 January 2018 | 22 August 2019 | ||||
| Yankuba Sonko | Independent | 22 August 2019 | 4 May 2022 | ||||
| Seyaka Sonko | Independent | 4 May 2022 | Incumbent | ||||
| Minister of Youth and Sports | Henry Gomez | GDPD | 1 February 2017 | 9 July 2018 | |||
| Hadrammeh Sidibeh | Independent | 9 July 2018 | 30 September 2020 | ||||
| Bakary Y. Badjie | Independent | 1 October 2020 | Incumbent | ||||
| Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure | Bai Lamin Jobe | Independent | 22 February 2017 | 4 May 2022 | |||
| Ebrima Sillah | Independent | 4 May 2022 | Incumbent | ||||
| Also attending cabinet | |||||||
| Secretary General Head of the Civil Service |
Dawda Fadera | Independent | 9 February 2017 | 8 January 2018 | |||
| Habib Drammeh | Independent | 8 January 2018 | 14 September 2018 | ||||
| Ebrima Camara | Independent | 17 September 2018 | 22 August 2019 | ||||
| Muhammad B. S. Jallow | Independent | 22 August 2019 | 25 May 2020 | ||||
| Noah Touray | Independent | 26 May 2020 | 4 May 2022 | ||||
| Salimatta E. Touray | Independent | 4 May 2022 | Incumbent | ||||
Other senior appointees
editPresidents of the Gambia can also make other senior appointments, that do not sit in the Cabinet. Barrow has made the following appointments:
Military and security
edit| Role | Department | Holder | Entered office | Left office | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief of the Defence Staff | Gambia Armed Forces | Masaneh Kinteh | 27 February 2017 | 5 March 2020 | |
| Director | State Intelligence Services | Ousman Sowe | 2 February 2017 | 13 February 2017 | |
| Musa Dibbaa | 13 February 2017 |
Diplomacy
edit| Role | Based | Holder | Entered office | Left office | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambassador to the United States | Washington DC, USA | Ebraima "Ebou" Manneh | 7 March 2017 | 24 January 2018 | [20] |
| Dawda Fadera | 24 January 2018 | 20 February 2022 | [21] | ||
| Permanent Representative to the UN | New York, USA | Mamadou Tangara | 3 May 2017 | 9 July 2018 | [22] |
| H.E. Lamin Lang Yabou | |||||
| Ambassador to Senegal | Dakar, Senegal | Ebrima Ndure | 19 May 2017 | [23] | |
| High Commissioner to the United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom | Francis Blaine | 19 May 2017 | [23] | |
| Permanent Representative to the EU | Brussels, Belgium | Teneng Mba Jaiteh | 19 May 2017 |
Office of the President
edit| Role | Holder | Entered office | Left office | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military Aide to the President | Masaneh Kinteh | 25 January 2017 | 27 February 2017 | ||
| Director of Press and Public Relations | Amie Bojang Sissoho | 1 February 2017 | |||
| Special Advisor on Governance | Halifa Sallah | 17 February 2017 | 17 February 2017 | ||
| Special Advisor on Religious and Traditional Affairs | Dembo Bojang | 19 February 2017 | |||
| Special Advisor on Investment | Musa Drammeh | 19 February 2017 | 9 July 2018 | ||
| National Security Advisor | Momodou Badjie | September 2017 |
Other
edit| Role | Department | Holder | Entered office | Left office | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director-General | Gambia Prison Services | Ansumana Manneh | 24 February 2017 | ||
| Saikou Kawsu Gassama | 14 October 2021 | [24] | |||
| Director-General | Gambia Radio & Television Service | Ebrima Sillah | 15 February 2017 | 29 June 2018 | |
| Abdou M. K. Touray | 10 July 2018 | 28 Feb 2021 | |||
| Malick jeng | 1 march 2021 | ||||
| Chief Justice | Supreme Court of the Gambia | Hassan Bubacar Jallow | 15 February 2017 |
Notes
edit- ^ Minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters until 2022.
References
edit- ^ Pilling, David (26 January 2017). "Gambia's new president Adama Barrow set to return home". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "President Barrow to announce Cabinet". The Point. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ a b Jammeh, Saikou (31 January 2017). "President Adama Barrow's cabinet-in-waiting: here's what we know so far". SMBC News. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Gambia's New President appoints 10 Cabinet Ministers". Gainako. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Adama Barrow's Cabinet-PDOIS Out". The Gambia Echo. 1 February 2017. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Gambia: More Cabinet Ministers Appointed". Jollof News. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Gambia's Vice President Fatoumata Tambajang to be sworn-in". SMBC News. 8 November 2017. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Mai Fatty relieved of Cabinet appointment". The Point. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Gambia: Ex-Interior Minister Mai Fatty Breaks Silence". Jollof News. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Barrow makes 1st MAJOR Cabinet reshuffle". The Point. 2 July 2018. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "The Gambia swears in new Vice-President, 8 ministers". Xinhua News. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on July 10, 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Taylor, Mildred Europa (16 March 2019). "Gambian leader Adama Barrow replaces Veep with woman". Face2FaceAfrica. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ "Barrow swears in new cabinet, one coalition party missing". The Point. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ "Barrow appoints five new ministers". The Point. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ^ "President Barrow appoints new Cabinet Ministers". State House. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ "New Interior minister appointed". The Point. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- ^ "Interior minister appointed SG, Fadera redeployed to Foreign Service". The Point. 9 January 2018. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- ^ "President Adama Barrow reshuffles his Cabinet". Foroyaa. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ "GAMBIA: UPDATED VERSION OF THE CABINET RESHUFFLE PRESS RELEASE!". Freedom Newspaper. 29 June 2018. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Gambia: Breaking News: Ebou Manneh Is Gambia's Ambassador To The US; Goor Faye Out!!!". Freedom Newspaper. 8 March 2017.
- ^ "Gambian Ambassador to US meets President Trump". The Standard. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ "New Permanent Representative of Gambia Presents Credentials". UN News. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ a b "20 New Ambassadors Appointed". The Standard. 19 May 2017. Archived from the original on 9 June 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ "Dr Saikou Kawsu Gassama lands top role at National Human Rights Commission". The Fatu Network. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2022.