Constitutional Petition: Offshore Petroleum Resources and Blocks A2 & A5

Public Interest Litigation Update

1 September 2026

Fana Fana Chambers is leading a public-interest constitutional petition before the Supreme Court of The Gambia concerning the governance and allocation of the country's offshore petroleum resources, including matters relating to Petroleum Blocks A2 and A5.

The proceedings raise important questions concerning constitutional governance, the exercise of public power, petroleum regulation and the protection of the national interest in The Gambia's natural resources.

The petition was filed before the Supreme Court on 2 December 2025. The proceedings have since progressed through a number of important procedural stages, culminating in the formal service of the Petitioners' evidence bundle upon the Respondents.

Current Status

The Registrar of the Supreme Court confirmed in correspondence dated 26 May 2026, received by the Petitioners on 2 June 2026, that the writ had been signed by the Honourable Chief Justice and issued out of the Supreme Court for service.

Following that confirmation, the Petitioners' evidence bundle was served on the Respondents on 5 June 2026.

The Respondents are:

• The Attorney General of The Gambia

• The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy

• The Gambia Petroleum Commission

Service of the evidence bundle represents an important procedural stage in the proceedings, formally placing the Respondents on notice of the evidence upon which the Petitioners intend to rely.

The matter has subsequently been listed for consideration by the Supreme Court, with the next hearing expected in December 2026.

Why the Proceedings Matter

The litigation concerns issues extending beyond the interests of the individual parties. It engages broader questions concerning:

• the constitutional governance of The Gambia's natural resources;

• the exercise of executive and regulatory powers;

• the legal framework governing offshore petroleum blocks;

• transparency and accountability in petroleum administration;

• the protection of the national interest in natural-resource transactions; and

• the constitutional and legal safeguards applicable to decisions affecting the country's petroleum resources.

The proceedings therefore provide an opportunity for the Supreme Court to consider important questions at the intersection of constitutional law, public law, petroleum regulation and natural-resource governance.

Procedural Chronology

Date

Development

2 December 2025

Constitutional petition filed before the Supreme Court of The Gambia.

26 May 2026

Registrar confirmed that the writ had been signed by the Honourable Chief Justice and issued for service.

2 June 2026

Petitioners received the Registrar's confirmation.

5 June 2026

Evidence bundle served upon the Attorney General, Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and Gambia Petroleum Commission.

December 2026

Next hearing before the Supreme Court.

Fana Fana Chambers and Public Interest Litigation

The proceedings reflect the Chambers' continuing commitment to constitutional accountability, the rule of law and the protection of the public interest.

They also form part of Fana Fana Chambers' broader practice in constitutional and administrative law, energy and natural resources, regulatory matters and complex disputes.

The Chambers will continue to report significant procedural developments as the matter progresses before the Supreme Court.

This update is provided for information only and reports the procedural status of ongoing proceedings. It does not purport to summarise the parties' complete cases or the merits of the issues before the Court. The proceedings remain pending determination by the Supreme Court.