By Fatou Bojang
Following decades of fragmented land governance marked by disputes, informal settlements and legal uncertainty, The Gambia on Monday launched its first National Land Policy, a sweeping reform aimed at reshaping how land is owned, used and managed across the country.
The National Land Policy, which covers the period 2026–2035, was unveiled following one of the most participatory policy development processes in the country’s history, involving consultations with more than 5,000 citizens nationwide.
President Adama Barrow said the policy is designed to improve transparency, accountability and fairness in land administration while addressing persistent land disputes, particularly in rapidly growing coastal and peri-urban areas.
“The policy recognises our three land tenure systems customary, freehold and leasehold and introduces reforms to ensure equitable access, especially for women, youth and persons with disabilities, it will strengthen accountability and modernise land administration for national development,” President Barrow said.
A key feature of the policy is the proposed establishment of a modern, digital national land administration system aimed at reducing bureaucratic delays, lowering transaction costs and limiting opportunities for corruption.
Land disputes remain one of the most common sources of social tension in The Gambia. Officials say the new policy seeks to address this by harmonising statutory and customary land laws, strengthening tenure security and improving land use planning.
Abdou Touray, a local consultant to the Ministry of Lands, said the reform was shaped through extensive public engagement conducted over 18 months.
“More than 5,000 people contributed directly through workshops, focus group discussions, interviews and district-level meetings,” Touray said.
“This policy reflects the collective aspirations of Gambians on how land should be governed equitably, productively and sustainably.”
Touray explained that consultations were held across all seven regions, 16 districts and 10 urban wards, engaging traditional authorities, women, youth, persons with disabilities, civil society organisations, religious leaders and private sector representatives.
The drafting process was guided by four Technical Working Groups focusing on land tenure, land use planning, legal frameworks and land administration. Their work was overseen by a National Steering Committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Lands, with support from national and international experts.
The policy is aligned with international and regional frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the African Union Land Policy Guidelines and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure.
Masanneh Landing Ceesay, representing West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) Resilience Investment Project, said the policy provides a strong foundation for coordinated land management and conflict prevention
“This policy brings us together around a shared understanding of how land should be managed to protect rights, prevent conflict and serve the collective interest,” Ceesay said.
He noted that the policy is backed by a phased implementation plan scheduled to begin in January 2026, including the establishment of a National Land Policy Implementation Unit to coordinate reforms, mobilise resources and monitor progress.
The policy also places strong emphasis on climate resilience, particularly in flood-prone and environmentally sensitive areas, aligning land use planning with disaster risk reduction and sustainable development goals.
