The Gambia Government has spent D3.10 billion on debt interest payments in the first half of 2026, with the cost of servicing domestic debt rising sharply by 17 percent compared to the same period last year.
Finance Minister Seedy Keita presented the figures to the National Assembly on Monday in his mid-year statement on the implementation of the 2026 national budget.
Of the total debt interest, D2.50 billion was directed towards domestic debt, while D600 million went to external debt. External debt interest also rose by 21 percent year-on-year.
The D3.10 billion spent by June represents 45 percent of the government’s annual debt-service allocation of D6.90 billion. Debt interest was one of the largest components of government expenditure during the period.
Personnel emoluments accounted for D5.06 billion, while subsidies and transfers reached D3.62 billion. Combined, debt interest, salaries, and subsidies consumed D11.76 billion in the first half of the year.
Overall government expenditure and net lending stood at D15.42 billion by June, representing 42 percent of the approved annual budget of D36.49 billion.
Meanwhile, domestic revenue totaled D15.35 billion, leaving government with a gross deficit of D68.86 million.
The Finance Ministry attributed the deficit largely to fiscal pressures from domestic debt servicing and pledged to continue measures aimed at reducing borrowing needs and strengthening fiscal management during the remainder of 2026
