Exiled former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has ignited a firestorm with a blistering audio message accusing Senegal and senior Gambian officials of illegally extracting oil from Gambian waters. Released on May 29, 2025, and rapidly spreading across social platforms, Jammeh’s allegations have fueled outrage, skepticism, and renewed scrutiny of The Gambia’s petroleum prospects and his contentious rule from 1994 to 2017.
Speaking from Equatorial Guinea, Jammeh claimed Senegal, led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, is siphoning Gambian oil, leaving the nation mired in poverty and crumbling public services. He accused Sonko of hypocrisy, alleging that he’s following the playbook of former President Macky Sall, who is accused of resource theft, despite his public stance on integrity. “Sonko claims righteousness but steals what belongs to Gambia’s poor,” Jammeh declared, asserting that Gambian oil could have revolutionized healthcare, education, and infrastructure. He warned of legal repercussions upon his return, stating, “If Senegal demands accountability, The Gambia will too.”
Jammeh questioned the legitimacy of Senegal’s oil success in the MSGBC basin, particularly the Sangomar field, which began production in 2024. “If Senegal had oil, why did drilling take so long?” he asked, implying their finds rely on Gambian territory. He further accused Senegal of seizing Gambian weapons during his regime, challenging Sonko to return them to prove his sincerity. Jammeh referenced a 2014 incident during a Senegalese uprising, claiming Sonko refused a State House visit, cryptically “waiting for 2024,” a remark analysts link to Sonko’s political ascent.
In a stunning accusation, Jammeh implicated Gambian President Adama Barrow, opposition leader Ousainou Darboe, and Tourism Minister Hamat Bah in a secret deal with Senegal to exploit Gambian oil without public consultation. He alleged the agreement prioritizes elite enrichment over national welfare, though he offered no evidence. Jammeh also claimed Sall received weapons from Western nations, possibly Turkey, using Barrow to facilitate Senegal’s alleged oil grab.
Gambian officials swiftly rejected the claims. A Petroleum Ministry official, speaking anonymously to TAT, called them “baseless,” emphasizing the need for transparent exploration with companies like FAR Oil.
Geological data confirms the MSGBC basin’s potential, but Gambia’s offshore blocks are less promising than those of Senegal. Still, Jammeh’s rhetoric threatens Gambia-Senegal relations, already strained by his exile and Equatorial Guinea’s resistance to ECOWAS extradition demands for his alleged role in crimes, including the 2005 massacre of 59 West African migrants, many Senegalese.
The 2019 Janneh Commission exposed Jammeh’s misappropriation of $360 million, some of which was tied to shady petroleum deals, eroding his credibility. Another energy and oil expert labeled Jammeh’s statement “a desperate ploy to dodge justice.” However, some Gambians, nostalgic for Jammeh’s promises of oil-driven prosperity, are intrigued. “He always spoke of oil—maybe there’s truth there,” said Amie Touray, a third-year University of Gambia student, told TAT.
Jammeh’s claims tap into long-standing speculation about Gambia’s oil potential, dating back to his “Alhamdulillah project” in 2004, which promised wealth but yielded little. Experts note that while the MSGBC basin holds promise, Gambia’s reserves remain unproven, with exploration hampered by technical and financial constraints. The government, keen to dispel myths, according to our sources, plans to release updated geological data to reassure citizens and investors.
Jammeh’s accusations underscore the complex interplay of regional rivalries, resource politics, and his unresolved legacy as The Gambia navigates its oil ambitions. With ECOWAS pushing for a hybrid court to try his alleged crimes, his provocative rhetoric may complicate diplomatic efforts while fueling domestic divisions.
