By Fatou Sillah
The National Assembly has approved legislation amending the country’s national security framework, introducing a new levy on imports aimed at financing long-running efforts to reform the security sector and sustain joint operations.
The measure, known as the National Security Council Amendment Bill 2026, was tabled under a certificate of emergency by Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow. Lawmakers moved it swiftly through all required stages—first, second, and third readings—before passing it in plenary.
Presenting the bill during its second reading, Mr. Jallow said the amendment seeks to “provide a clear and enforceable legal framework” to fund the country’s security sector reform program and the National Security Sector Joint Operations Fund, a central pool designed to coordinate and finance multi-agency security activities.
The legislation modifies provisions of the National Security Council Act 2025, which established the National Security Council and the Office of National Security, outlining their roles in coordination, oversight, and strategic decision-making. While the 2025 law was seen as a milestone in strengthening institutional accountability, officials said its financing mechanisms proved inadequate.
According to Mr. Jallow, the earlier law relied heavily on external donor funding and contained “legislative” gaps—particularly in Section 22—that made its revenue provisions unenforceable as a tax instrument. The amendment seeks to address those shortcomings by creating a domestically generated and legally binding funding stream.
At the center of the new framework is a national security levy set at 1.5 percent of the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value of all imported goods. The levy will be applied broadly across imports into the country, marking a significant policy shift toward internally financed security spending.
Under the bill, the existing financing provisions in the 2025 act will be repealed and replaced. Two new sections — 22A and 22B — lay out the structure for the imposition, administration, collection, and enforcement of the levy. The Gambia Revenue Authority will be responsible for collecting the funds and transferring them to the National Security Sector Joint Operations Fund.
Government officials say the measure is intended to ensure more predictable and sustainable financing for security operations, including logistics, infrastructure development, and training programs. By reducing reliance on foreign donors, the administration argues, the country will gain greater control over the pace and direction of its reforms.
“This amendment will ensure that the fund is robustly financed through a sustainable domestic revenue mechanism,” Mr. Jallow told lawmakers, adding that it would “enhance national ownership” of the reform process and allow for long-term planning within the security sector.
The bill also introduces enforcement provisions aligned with existing tax laws, including penalties for noncompliance, in an effort to strengthen accountability and compliance.
Supporters of the legislation argue that a stable and well-funded security sector is critical to public safety and economic development. The government has framed the reform agenda as essential to building public trust in state institutions and creating a secure environment for investment and growth.
Still, the introduction of a new import levy is likely to have broader economic implications, particularly for businesses and consumers who may face higher costs as importers adjust prices to absorb the additional charge.
In his remarks, Mr. Jallow emphasized that the overarching goal of the amendment is to secure “predictable and sustainable financing” for the security sector reform process, strengthen national institutions and foster confidence in government.
With parliamentary approval secured, the bill now awaits formal assent before becoming law, paving the way for the implementation of one of the most significant domestic financing mechanisms for national security in recent years.
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