The Gambia’s government is set to allocate more than one-fifth of its total revenue to debt repayments in the 2026 draft national budget, underscoring growing fiscal pressures in the country.
According to the draft presented to lawmakers by Finance Minister Seedy Keita, debt servicing will absorb D13.46 billion, representing over 22% of the country’s projected total revenue of D59.36 billion. This marks the second consecutive year that debt obligations have taken the largest share of government spending.
The proposed allocation for debt repayment surpasses key development sectors, with education receiving D5.9 billion, health D3.1 billion, and agriculture just D1.77 billion.
The youth and sports sector receives a notably smaller allocation of D146.5 million.
The interest on debt is also expected to rise sharply, from D5.8 billion in 2025 to D6.89 billion in 2026, reflecting the country’s mounting debt burden.
The budget outlines a total appropriation of D43.49 billion, supported by grants amounting to D14.41 billion and loans of D1.46 billion.
While the government maintains that the 2026 budget seeks to balance fiscal discipline with national development goals, analysts warn that The Gambia’s rising debt service ratio could limit future investment in critical social sectors.
