The University of The Gambia Students’ Union (UTGSU) has issued a formal call for student solidarity and announced a peaceful protest to press for urgent action on persistent problems at the Faraba Campus.
In a statement released on 24 October 2026, the 24th Executive Council said transportation shortages, inadequate food, limited access to drinkable water, and poor internet connectivity have continued since the university’s relocation to Faraba and have now reached a critical point.
Students are missing classes, tests, and other academic commitments because of insufficient buses provided by the Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC), the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), and university management.
The food situation remains unresolved nearly two months into the semester and, according to the union, has worsened. “Students are sometimes forced to go from morning to evening on empty stomachs,” the statement said. The union described the challenges as “entirely avoidable” and attributed their persistence to “sheer indifference to the needs of students.”
The UTGSU said it has consistently engaged the relevant authorities in line with Section 7(4) of its 2021 Constitution (as amended), but that almost all such efforts “were treated without regard or as matters that merit no attention at all.” Citing the Preamble and Section 7 of the Constitution, which require the union to protect student welfare, the leadership said engagement has failed to produce results and that other lawful means must now be pursued.
The protest is scheduled for Monday, 26 October 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at the Peace Building on the Kanifing Campus. Students will gather peacefully, register their dissatisfaction, and submit a petition outlining the union’s position. The statement, signed by Secretary General Muhammed Bah, is addressed to every UTG student and invokes the union’s motto of “dedication, service and solidarity.” It further cites Section 7(5), which calls on students to speak with one voice on major issues, declaring that “that moment has come.”
“This is a struggle for our dignity, and it is a collective one. It can only be won together,” the statement reads. “Silence has only deepened them. Unity of purpose will end them.”
Separately, the UTGSU Information and Communications Ministry urged all students to stand in solidarity with the union, stating that welfare is the priority and that unity is the strength needed to defend collective interests.
The call comes as the government separately announced immediate measures on catering, water, internet, and transport, with several interventions set to begin on the same Monday the protest is planned.
