Hundreds of students at the University of The Gambia staged a protest on Monday over deteriorating campus conditions, including unreliable transport, food shortages, inadequate drinking water and poor internet connectivity.
The demonstration took place at the university as students demanded urgent action to address problems they say have disrupted lectures, tests and other academic activities during the 2026/2027 academic year.
The University of The Gambia Students’ Union said students had endured weeks of unresolved difficulties despite previous engagements with university management and government officials. The union urged participants to remain peaceful while pressing for practical solutions.
Students complained that unreliable bus services had left some waiting for hours or missing classes and tests. The Faraba campus, located about 56 kilometres from the capital, Banjul, has made transport a major concern for students commuting to attend lectures.
Other grievances included the closure of the campus cafeteria, limited access to potable water and unreliable internet. Students also raised concerns about inadequate laboratory facilities for science courses, a lack of a dedicated studio for journalism students and poor sanitation in parts of the campus.
The protest followed a government announcement of measures intended to address students’ concerns. The Ministry of Higher Education said catering services would resume on Monday, additional water dispensers would be provided and efforts would be made to improve internet connectivity.
The government also announced that the Gambia Transport Service Company would deploy its full fleet of 20 buses to ease transportation difficulties. Authorities said discussions would continue to identify longer-term solutions.
However, the students’ union questioned the timing of the government’s engagement, saying the meeting that produced the measures came after the protest had been announced. Union leaders said earlier discussions had failed to deliver the progress students were seeking.
Higher Education Minister Pierre Gomez met students during the demonstration and acknowledged their concerns, promising that his ministry would work to address the problems.
The dispute highlights challenges facing students who depend on public university services to access education. Transport disruptions, unreliable internet and shortages of basic amenities can affect attendance, academic performance and students’ ability to complete coursework.
The government’s announced interventions offer immediate responses to several demands, but students are seeking reliable services and lasting improvements rather than temporary measures.
The university administration and the Ministry of Higher Education now face pressure to demonstrate that the promised changes will be implemented and sustained throughout the academic year.
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