President Adama Barrow has welcomed a major legal victory after an international committee annulled a US$33.2 million arbitration award that had been made against The Gambia over the takeover of a shrimp farm during the former Jammeh regime.
The dispute stemmed from a March 2024 ruling by an international tribunal ordering The Gambia to pay compensation to foreign investors.
According to the government, President Barrow directed Attorney General Dawda A. Jallow to challenge the ruling through all lawful means, a decision later endorsed by Cabinet.
A legal team led by senior Gambian lawyer Edi M.O. Faal and Cherie Blair KC of Omnia Strategy subsequently applied to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) to have the award annulled.
On 17 July 2026, the ICSID Annulment Committee ruled in The Gambia’s favour, finding that the original tribunal had failed to properly explain how Gambian law provided consent to ICSID arbitration. The committee annulled the award in full.
The ruling eliminates more than US$32 million in potential liabilities for the state and allows The Gambia to recover approximately US$213,000 in arbitration costs.
Attorney General Jallow said the outcome demonstrated that, with strong political backing and effective legal representation, The Gambia could successfully defend its interests on the international stage.
He praised President Barrow for his leadership and commended the legal team, including Edi M.O. Faal, Cherie Blair KC and expert witness Kebba Sanyang, for their work during the two-year legal battle.
The government said it remains committed to protecting public funds while honouring its international obligations and ensuring fair treatment in international disputes.
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