The Gambia government has announced the conditional lifting of a moratorium on the issuance of radio broadcasting licence, following a cabinet meeting held on Thursday, 3 July.

The decision, which takes immediate effect, is aimed at expanding access to broadcasting services across the country, particularly in rural areas, and addressing the current imbalance in media coverage between urban and rural regions.

The moratorium was originally put in place to allow for regulatory reform and spectrum management.

Under the new policy, licence applications will be considered if they propose to serve rural communities or demonstrate the technical capacity to reach a national audience.

Authorities say the move is part of a broader strategy to encourage more equitable media development and to reduce the over-concentration of radio stations in urban centres.

Regulators will begin reviewing qualifying applications under the new guidelines immediately. Successful applicants will be contacted in due course.

In a statement, the government reaffirmed its commitment to fostering diversity, accessibility, and balanced growth within the broadcasting sector, adding that it will closely monitor the policy’s impact going forward.

By Adama Makasuba