A source with knowledge of junior personnel in the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) has raised questions about promotion and career progression within the military following this week’s promotion of senior commanders, including Chief of Defence Staff Major General Ousman Gomez.

Speaking anonymously to Gambiana, the source said some junior GAF personnel reportedly spend 10 years or more in service without progressing beyond the ranks of Private or Lance Corporal.

The source contrasted this with recent promotions in the Gambia Police Force (GPF), where some personnel are reported to have advanced to Corporal or Sergeant within a few years.

The source cited a former classmate who joined the GAF in 2017 and reportedly received promotion to Lance Corporal last year. Other personnel were also said to have spent 10, 11 or 12 years in service with limited advancement.

Gambiana has not independently verified these claims.

The source said the issue raises questions about how promotions are determined and whether personnel who meet the relevant criteria have adequate opportunities for career advancement. Promotion can also affect salaries, benefits and long-term career prospects.

The source referred to concerns about conditions within the military that were raised before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), suggesting that mechanisms for addressing personnel concerns remain important.

The source said the issue should not be interpreted as a call for disobedience or military intervention, but as a request for greater transparency and effective channels for serving personnel to raise concerns.

They called on the authorities to review promotion processes and ensure that eligible personnel are given fair opportunities to advance.

“Fairness should not be a privilege. Fairness should be for everyone who serves The Gambia,” the source said.

The Gambia Armed Forces has been contacted for comment on the concerns raised in this report.