Barrow Shakes Up Gambia’s Top Military Command

By CTV Africa

President Adama Barrow has elevated three of the Gambia’s top military commanders in a major reshuffle of ranks at the highest level of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF).

The promotions, effective August 4, 2026, have seen the country’s top military commander, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Major General Ousman Gomez, rise to the rank of Lieutenant General.

His deputy, Brigadier General Sait Njie, has also been elevated to Major General, while Colonel Alagie Sanneh, Commander of the Republican National Guard (RNG), has been promoted to Brigadier General.

The decision was taken by President Barrow in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, exercising powers vested in him by the Constitution.

The promotions come just weeks after the three officers assumed their respective senior command positions, signalling a significant formalisation of the military’s top leadership structure.

Lieutenant General Gomez now heads the Gambia Armed Forces at the highest operational command level, while Major General Njie serves as his deputy. Brigadier General Sanneh, meanwhile, continues to lead the Republican National Guard with his new rank.

The GAF said the promotions are commensurate with the officers’ new appointments and responsibilities, following their recent elevation to key positions within the military hierarchy.

The latest development places the three officers at the centre of the Gambia’s military command structure at a time when the armed forces continue to play a critical role in national security and stability.

In a message congratulating the officers, the Gambia Armed Forces described the promotions as “well-deserved” and wished the newly promoted General Officers a successful and distinguished tenure in their respective commands.

With the latest elevations, President Barrow has now cemented the ranks of the officers appointed to steer the country’s top military command.