The recent revelations about intense diplomatic pressure exerted by the U.S. government to fast-track regulatory approval for Starlink in The Gambia should alarm every patriot. As the representative who first raised this issue in the National Assembly, I commend Minister Lamin Jabbi for his unwavering commitment to due process a stance that defends our sovereignty amid unprecedented coercion.
When reports exposed threats of aid withdrawal and diplomatic strong-arming linked to Starlink’s licensing , I demanded transparency. The U.S. Ambassador’s meetings with our officials where a $25 million energy project was conspicuously tied to Starlink’s approval crossed a red line. As Minister Jabbi’s deputy, Hassan Jallow, attested: “The implication was that they were connected” .
Minister Jabbi’s refusal to capitulate, despite pressure targeting seven Gambian ministers in a coordinated “maximum pressure” campaign , exemplifies integrity. His discovery that Starlink failed to meet basic regulatory criteria including misclassification as a VSAT provider proved that haste would have sacrificed our laws for foreign interests .
Starlink’s technology demands scrutiny of its economic, social, and security impacts. Rushing approval without assessing its effect on local telecom jobs, data sovereignty, or fair competition would have been reckless. As Minister Jabbi rightly stated: “A well-informed decision requires thorough consideration” .
With telecoms contributing 20% of our tax revenue, handing control of critical infrastructure to an external monopoly risks economic destabilization . Minister Jabbi’s insistence on clarified rollout plans, investment commitments, and service standards ensures Gambians not foreign shareholders reap the benefits of connectivity.
It is also important to clarify that this episode is not about rejecting innovation. Starlink’s potential to bridge our digital divide is undeniable. But as Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traore recently demonstrated, Africa’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.
