Gambia government spent D827.59 million on fuel subsidies
The subsidies aimed to cushion consumers from rising international fuel prices following Middle East tensions.
The Gambia government spent D827.59 million on petrol and diesel subsidies between March and September 2026. Finance Minister Seedy Keita presented this figure in his 2027 budget speech to the National Assembly. The expenditure aimed to protect consumers from increasing global fuel costs.
Nearly 95 per cent of the total subsidy, D785.13 million, went to diesel, while D42.46 million covered petrol. Despite these subsidies, domestic retail prices for petrol rose by 33.1 per cent and diesel by 41.8 per cent from March to September 2026. The government stated these measures kept prices below what they would have been without intervention.
The government is targeting a tax-to-GDP ratio of 13.1 per cent in 2026, aiming for 13.5 per cent in 2027 through improved revenue collection. President Adama Barrow's administration also reported progress on several road projects inaugurated in the second and third quarters of 2026.
Why it mattersGambia's government spent over D827 million on fuel subsidies to protect citizens from rising international fuel prices.