Gambia at 60: Free, But Still Borrowing Sugar From the Neighbors

By Abdallah Khabib Jallow

Sixty years after shaking off British rule, Gambia proudly waves its flag, belts out its anthem, and claims its place as an independent nation. But here’s the million-dollar question—or in our case, the heavily-loaned million-dalasi question: How independent is a country that still depends on foreign aid, IMF loans, and remittances from “Uncle Lamin” in Sweden to keep its economy running? If true independence means standing tall, then Gambia is still wobbling on crutches borrowed from the World Bank.  

# Would Our Founding Fathers Be Proud?

Would Sir Dawda, Sir Farimang, Mr. Garba Jahumpa or Sir Edward Francis—just to mention a few—be proud of where we are today? They fought for a free Gambia, risked their lives, and dreamed of a self-sufficient nation. But in 2025, a 15-year-old boy sitting in class wonders: Is this the independence they envisioned? Not because he doesn’t respect their struggle, but because he looks around and sees a country that should be far ahead.  

Let’s be honest—every Samba, Pateh, and Yero has their own excuse for why things are the way they are. Some blame the government, some blame colonialism, and some even blame the weather. But pointing fingers won’t move us forward. At 60, we should be reflecting, not just celebrating. We should be fixing, not just clapping. Because if we’re not careful, our grandchildren will be having this same conversation when Gambia turns 100.

#. Foreign Aid: A Gift or a Handcuff?

Gambia’s economy is still fragile, built on tourism, agriculture, and—let’s not pretend—money sent home by those who escaped to Europe. With remittances making up over 20% of GDP, our independence celebrations should probably include a special shoutout to “Team Diaspora” for keeping the lights on. Meanwhile, foreign aid continues to pour in, but with conditions attached—so much so that you start to wonder if we’re truly running our own affairs or just dancing to the tune of donors.  

And let’s not even get started on loans. Our government keeps borrowing like a broke man with an expensive lifestyle. Debt keeps piling up, but where’s the economic growth? If you run your house the way we run our economy, your landlord would have kicked you out a long time ago.

# How do we Fix the ‘Independence Problem’? Here’s a reality Check 

If Gambia truly wants to be independent, it needs to stop borrowing sugar from the neighbors and start planting its own sugarcane. Here’s how:

1. Less Begging, More Building – We can’t keep surviving on donations. We need to invest in industries, innovation, and actual job creation—not just more political rallies.  

2. Support Local Businesses – Let’s stop relying on imports for everything. If we can produce it locally, we should buy it locally. Imagine if we put as much effort into developing our own industries as we do into organizing Independence Day parades.  

3. Cut Down the Debt Dependence – Loans are not free money; they are financial handcuffs. We need to prioritize revenue-generating projects, not just borrow to pay salaries.  

4. Invest in Our People – A skilled and educated population is a country’s best asset. Instead of waiting for handouts, let’s empower Gambians to create wealth here at home.

# Signing Out: Independence Is More Than a Public Holiday

At 60, Gambia should not just be celebrating independence—we should be proving it. Real independence isn’t just about flags and speeches; it’s about self-reliance, economic strength, and a future where our children don’t have to “check out” of the country to succeed.  

Because let’s be real—if after 60 years, we’re still depending on foreign aid, sending our best brains abroad, and borrowing from everyone except our neighbors in Cassamance, then maybe, just maybe… we need to rethink what independence truly means.  

Now, who’s bringing the sugar?