By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
A wave of unease has swept through Sanyang Village, a coastal community in The Gambia’s West Coast Region, as stakeholders brace for the potential fallout of a Deep Sea Port (DSP) project proposed under a Concession Agreement between the Gambia Government and Albayrak, a Turkish company reportedly linked to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
While the project promises development, many in Sanyang fear it comes at a steep cost: destroying their businesses, livelihoods, and deep-rooted ties to a place they call home.
From beach bar owners to fishermen, women gardeners to property holders, the voices of concern are growing louder, painting the DSP as a “blessing in disguise” that could erase this coastal village’s economic and cultural fabric.
Investigative journalist Kebba Ansu Manneh of The Alkamba Times (TAT) spent the weekend in Sanyang, speaking with those whose lives are in danger as the government moves forward with its plans.
Paradise Beach Under Threat
Lamin JJ Jawla, Proprietor and CEO of Rainbow Beach Bar on Sanyang’s famed Paradise Beach, didn’t mince words when describing the looming threat. “The Sanyang Deep Sea Port will affect more than fifty beach bars, motels, lodges, and camps once the government starts implementation,” he told TAT.
For Jawla and others, the project represents an existential crisis. “Most operators along Paradise Beach are living with fear and anxiety. We’re on the verge of losing everything we’ve worked for.”
Jawla emphasized the self-made success of Sanyang Beach, a tourism hub modeled after Senegambia that has become a magnet for visitors and a lifeline for locals. “We built this paradise ourselves—people of Sanyang. It’s paid off over the years through our hard work and commitment. It’s an envy to tourists, creates thousands of jobs for the youth, and supports the livelihoods of countless others,” he said. Yet, with the DSP looming, he fears “thousands of youths working in tourism will be forced into the streets,” raising questions about the government’s priorities.
Jawla proposed an alternative: relocating the project to the stretch between Hawaba and Tujereng, where he believes there’s ample space to accommodate the port without upending Sanyang’s economy. “We appeal to the government to reconsider,” he urged.
Fishermen Sound the Alarm
The ripple effects of the DSP extend beyond tourism. Lamin Saidy, President of the Sanyang Fishermen Association, warned of catastrophic consequences for the Sanyang Fish Landing Center, a vital hub employing Gambians, Senegalese, Malians, and Guineans. “Neither the government nor the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) has held consultations with us about our livelihoods,” Saidy lamented.
He painted a grim picture: “Thousands of youths will be driven out of work once Albayrak starts operations. The impact won’t just hit fishermen—it’ll devastate thousands of families in Sanyang and beyond who depend on our catches.” Saidy echoed Jawla’s plea, urging the government to preserve the landing center and reconsider its plans. “Any disruption here will have a devastating impact on livelihoods,” he warned.
A Community United in Resistance
Abdoulie Botto Gaye, Chairman of the Sanyang Village Development Committee (SVDC), broadened the scope of concern, noting that the DSP threatens not just beach businesses and fishermen but also women gardeners, residential homeowners, and small-scale vendors. “Beach bars, lodges, guesthouses, private accommodations, fish landing centers, stalls, a fishmeal factory, women’s gardens, and homes are all marked for eradication,” he told TAT.
While the SVDC isn’t opposed to a deep sea port in principle, Gaye stressed that the current site is non-negotiable for the community. “If the government ignores our calls and proceeds with this location, we’ll challenge it in court,” he declared, signaling a potential legal showdown.
Gaye revealed that talks with the Gambia Ports Authority (now Alport) and the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure (MoWI) are underway. A Pre-Entry Meeting last month concluded with an agreement to form a Steering Committee of stakeholders to evaluate both the government’s chosen site and an alternative proposed by Sanyang residents. Plans are also in place to establish a committee office in the village, though tensions remain high as the community awaits concrete action.
A Village at a Crossroads
For now, Sanyang Village stands at a crossroads. Stakeholders see the DSP as a double-edged sword—a development that could modernize the region but at the cost of displacing an entire way of life. As Lamin JJ Jawla put it, “Paradise Beach is so dear to us. We built it ourselves, and it’s paid off. Why take that away?”
With consultations ongoing and the threat of litigation on the horizon, the Gambia Government faces a pivotal choice: heed the voices of Sanyang’s stakeholders or press ahead with a project that could reshape this coastal community forever. For the people of Sanyang, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
