Following his victory in the 2016 Gambian presidential election, the newly elected President Adama Barrow appointed a new cabinet to succeed the cabinet of Yahya Jammeh, his predecessor. Barrow was formally inaugurated on 19 January 2017 at the embassy of the Gambia in Dakar, Senegal, and was able to return to the Gambia on 26 January. He made the bulk of appointments in February 2017, and conducted major reshuffles in June 2018, March 2019 and May 2022.
History It was announced that Barrow would return to the Gambia from Senegal on 26 January 2017, having been sworn-in at the Gambian embassy there on 19 January due to the 2016–17 Gambian constitutional crisis. He said that his ministers would be announced on 31 January, and that they would have to declare their assets before taking up office. The names were in fact only revealed at their swearing-in on 1 February. Among the appointments were UDP treasurer and professional accountant Amadou Sanneh, women's rights activist Isatou Touray, UN prosecutor and lawyer Ba Tambadou, UDP leader and senior barrister Ousainou Darboe, NRP leader Hamat Bah, former agriculture minister Omar A. Jallow, and GMC leader and lawyer Mai Fatty.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, Barrow promised to appoint the remaining cabinet members by the end of the week. No members of the People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) were appointed to the cabinet since they declined positions offered to them, though both Sidia Jatta and Halifa Sallah were to be part of Barrow's new think tank, the Agency For Sustainable Socio-Economic Development (ASSED). Five further appointments to the cabinet were made on 22 February, with Fatoumata Tambajang becoming Minister of Women's Affairs overseeing the Office of Vice-President.
Tambajang was formally sworn-in as Vice-President of the Gambia on 9 November 2017, after Barrow passed a constitutional amendment regarding the age limit. The first alteration was on 10 November, when Mai Fatty was relieved of his appointment as Minister of the Interior. He later denied that he was relieved due to being involved in corruption. 29 June 2018 saw a major cabinet reshuffle announced, with Ousainou Darboe becoming Vice-President, Mamadou Tangara becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mambury Njie becoming Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, with several other shuffles and appointments. The new ministers were sworn-in during a ceremony on 9 July 2018.
Composition CabinetOfficeIncumbent Entered office Left officePartyCabinet ministers President Adama Barrow19 January 2017Incumbent NPPVice-PresidentMinister of Women's Affairs Fatoumata Tambajang22 February 20179 July 2018 IndependentOusainou Darboe9 July 201815 March 2019 UDP Isatou Touray15 March 20194 May 2022 Independent Badara Joof4 May 202217 January 2023 Independent Muhammad B. S. Jallow24 February 2023Incumbent IndependentMinister of Foreign Affairs Ousainou Darboe1 February 20179 July 2018 UDP Mamadou Tangara9 July 2018Incumbent Independent Minister of Defence Sheikh Omar Faye22 August 2019Incumbent IndependentMinister of Finance and Economic Affairs Amadou Sanneh1 February 20179 July 2018 UDP Mambury Njie9 July 2018Incumbent Independent Minister of Tourism and Culture Hamat Bah1 February 2017Incumbent NRPMinister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Badara Joof22 February 20174 May 2022 Independent Pierre Gomez 4 May 2022Incumbent IndependentMinister of Basic and Secondary Education Claudiana Cole22 February 2017Incumbent IndependentMinister of Health and Social Welfare Saffie Lowe Ceesay22 February 20179 July 2018 Independent Isatou Touray9 July 201827 March 2019 Independent Ahmadou Lamin Samateh27 March 2019Incumbent IndependentMinister of Agriculture Omar A. Jallow1 February 20179 July 2018 PPP Lamin N. Dibba9 July 201815 March 2019 UDP Demba Sabally4 May 2022Incumbent NPPMinister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment Isatou Touray1 February 20179 July 2018 Independent Amadou Sanneh9 July 201815 March 2019 UDPMinister of Forestry, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources Lamin N. Dibba1 February 201715 March 2019 NCP Rohey John Manjang4 May 2022Incumbent IndependentMinister of Fisheries and Water Resources James F. P. Gomez1 February 20174 May 2022 PPPMusa Drammeh4 May 2022Incumbent IndependentMinister of Energy and Petroleum Fafa Sanyang FGS10 April 20174 May 2022 Independent Abdoulie Jobe 4 May 2022Incumbent IndependentMinister of Lands and Regional GovernmentLamin N. Dibba1 February 20179 July 2018 UDPMusa Drammeh9 July 20184 May 2022 IndependentAbba Sanyang4 May 20221 July 2023 IndependentOusman Sowe1 July 20231 September 2023 IndependentMinister of JusticeAttorney General Ba Tambadou7 February 201730 June 2020 Independent Dawda A. Jallow30 June 2020Incumbent Independent Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure Demba Ali Jawo22 February 20179 July 2018 Independent Ebrima Sillah9 July 2018Incumbent IndependentMinister of the Interior Mai Fatty1 February 201710 November 2017 GMC Habib Drammeh4 December 20178 January 2018 Independent Ebrima Mballow 8 January 201822 August 2019 Independent Yankuba Sonko22 August 20194 May 2022 Independent Seyaka Sonko4 May 2022Incumbent IndependentMinister of Youth and Sports Henry Gomez1 February 20179 July 2018 GPDP Hadrammeh Sidibeh9 July 201830 September 2020 Independent Bakary Y. Badjie1 October 2020Incumbent IndependentMinister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure Bai Lamin Jobe22 February 20174 May 2022 Independent Ebrima Sillah4 May 2022Incumbent IndependentAlso attending cabinetSecretary GeneralHead of the Civil Service Dawda Fadera 9 February 2017 8 January 2018 Independent Habib Drammeh 8 January 2018 14 September 2018 Independent Ebrima Camara 17 September 2018 22 August 2019 Independent Muhammad B. S. Jallow 22 August 2019 25 May 2020 Independent Noah Touray 26 May 2020 4 May 2022 Independent Salimatta E. Touray 4 May 2022Incumbent Independent
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Other senior appointees The President of the Gambia can also make other senior appointments that do not sit in the Cabinet. Barrow has made the following appointments:
Military and security +RoleDepartmentHolderEntered officeLeft officeSourceChief of the Defence StaffGambia Armed ForcesMasaneh Kinteh27 February 20175 March 2020 DirectorState Intelligence ServicesOusman Sowe2 February 201713 February 2017Musa Dibbaa13 February 2017Incumbent
Diplomacy
RoleBasedHolderEntered officeLeft officeSource Ambassador to the United States Washington, D.C., USAEbraima "Ebou" Manneh7 March 201724 January 2018Dawda Fadera24 January 201820 February 2022 Permanent Representative to the UNNew York, USAMamadou Tangara3 May 20179 July 2018H.E. Lamin Lang Yabou??Ambassador to SenegalDakar, SenegalEbrima Ndure19 May 2017IncumbentHigh Commissioner to the United KingdomLondon, United KingdomFrancis Blaine19 May 2017IncumbentPermanent Representative to the EUBrussels, BelgiumTeneng Mba Jaiteh19 May 2017Incumbent
Office of the President
RoleHolderEntered officeLeft officeSourceMilitary Aide to the PresidentMasaneh Kinteh25 January 201727 February 2017 Director of Press and Public RelationsAmie Bojang-Sissoho1 February 2017IncumbentSpecial Advisor on GovernanceHalifa Sallah17 February 201717 February 2017Special Advisor on Religious and Traditional AffairsDembo Bojang19 February 2017IncumbentSpecial Advisor on InvestmentMusa Drammeh19 February 20179 July 2018National Security AdvisorMomodou BadjieSeptember 2017Incumbent
Other
RoleDepartmentHolderEntered officeLeft officeSource Director-General Gambia Prison ServicesAnsumana Manneh24 February 2017?Saikou Kawsu Gassama?14 October 2021 Director-GeneralGambia Radio & Television ServiceEbrima Sillah15 February 201729 June 2018Abdou M. K. Touray10 July 201828 February 2021Malick Jeng1 March 2021?Chief JusticeSupreme Court of the GambiaHassan Bubacar Jallow15 February 2017Incumbent
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