Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – A Gambian political commentator has cautioned that the government is running out of time to shield citizens from the potential economic shockwaves of the ongoing war in the Middle East, urging authorities to “prepare for reality” rather than search for explanations after the damage is done.
In a strongly worded statement, Mahmoud M. Drammeh argued that governments, including The Gambia’s, may soon be tempted to blame global crises for domestic economic hardships. However, he maintained that responsible leadership is measured by early intervention, not by post-crisis justifications.
Drammeh highlighted The Gambia’s structural vulnerability as a heavily import-dependent economy, relying on foreign markets for food, fuel, and other essential commodities.
He warned that any escalation of the Middle East conflict, particularly if critical maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, could trigger sharp increases in global oil prices.
Such a development, he said, would inevitably raise fuel costs, drive up transportation expenses, and inflate market prices for basic goods across the country.
For households already grappling with the rising cost of rice, bread, and transport, Drammeh cautioned that another external shock could push more families below the poverty line.
He stressed that it would be unjust for authorities to wait until the effects are fully felt before attributing hardship to “events abroad,” insisting that the warning signs are already visible.
Calling for proactive measures, Drammeh urged the government to introduce emergency safeguards aimed at protecting food security, stabilizing key commodities, and reinforcing supply chains.
Proposed interventions include building strategic reserves, implementing targeted subsidies on essential goods, and expanding social support to vulnerable households to prevent them from bearing the full brunt of global market volatility.
He framed the situation as a test of political will, arguing that a serious government does not wait for hunger, inflation, and social tension to materialize before acting. “Prevention is always better than excuse-making,” he said, adding that leadership is judged by what it does before a crisis peaks, not after the consequences unfold.
Beyond rhetoric and reassurances, Drammeh called for the establishment of concrete economic buffers capable of insulating the country’s fragile economy from external shocks. Should the conflict persist and result in supply shortages, rising fuel costs, and escalating food prices, he warned that citizens should not be told that the crisis was unforeseeable.
While sharply critical, his remarks also carried an appeal for foresight and responsibility, urging Gambian leaders to act decisively to protect citizens from a crisis not of their making.
