By Mustapha K. Darboe
Claim: …The Gambian diaspora is responsible for 70% of the country’s gross domestic product.
Source: Leader of the APP-SOBEYA alliance, Essa Mbye Faal
Verdict: FALSE
In the past couple of weeks, the leader of the APP-SOBEYA alliance, Essa Mbye Faal, has made very popular media appearances.
Faal, an international lawyer who was lead counsel of the Truth Commission, made his first attempt at presidency, registering the least votes of the candidates who contested the 2021 elections.
Claim
In an interview with the West Coast Radio program, Coffee Time with Peter Gomez, Faal claimed the Gambian diaspora is responsible for 70% of the country’s gross domestic product.
“The other part of the rigging of the vote is the refusal to give the Diaspora the right to vote. The court did say that all Gambians, wherever you live, have a right to vote in presidential elections. Up to now, nothing has been done about exercising the Diaspora rights to vote…,” argued Mr Faal (mins 41).
“…These are people who are responsible for 70% of GDP. They are the people who are less regarded by this regime… They are the backbone. They are the people responsible for this country staying afloat. They are more important than foreign direct investment.”
Fact-check
A significant number of Gambian families are relying on remittances for survival and payment of bills. According to the Central Bank of the Gambia, the remittance contribution to the GDP in 2024 was 31.5% or $US775.6m. This represented a $US28.8m increase from 2023.
This fact has been reiterated by the officials of the Central Bank at the 2025 Stake of the Nation forum organised by the Gambian diaspora and the government.
The service sector remains the largest contributor to Gambia’s GDP, according to the Central Bank of the Gambia.
Verdict: The claim by Essa Mbye Faal that the Gambian diaspora is responsible for 70% of the country’s gross domestic product is FALSE.
