Researcher and legal analyst Ousman F. M’Bai has issued a formal open letter to FAR Ltd, the Australian petroleum company formerly active in The Gambia’s offshore oil sector, demanding full transparency and accountability over the company’s exit from the country’s A2 and A5 offshore blocks.
In a press statement accompanying the letter, M’Bai said: “In light of growing public concern, national discourse, and credible allegations surrounding the handling of The Gambia’s offshore petroleum resources, I am today releasing an open letter to FAR Ltd, the Australian oil company that formerly held through its subsidiary FAR (Gambia) Ltd the A2 and A5 offshore blocks.”
M’Bai explained that while he remains “respectful of the Access to Information Commission’s current engagement with the Gambia Petroleum Commission,” he believes “the gravity of the issues at stake, including questions of financial waivers, undisclosed drilling data, redrawn maritime boundaries, and cross-border resource governance, requires that key international stakeholders also be called to account.”
The letter seeks answers on three key areas:
- The terms of FAR (Gambia) Ltd.’s exit from The Gambia
- The accuracy of its statements regarding poor reservoir quality and the supposed absence of commercially viable oil
- Its responsibility to the people of The Gambia in light of generous statutory waivers and the sale of its Sangomar stake to Woodside Energy for more than US $500 million
“This is not a campaign against any company or country,” M’Bai stated. “It is a principled call for transparency, corporate accountability, and respect for national sovereignty and public resources. The Gambia cannot meaningfully participate in the MSGBC Basin, or future regional unitisation talks if its resource governance is based on secrecy, technical ambiguity, and lopsided concessions.”
Significantly, M’Bai announced that “further open letters to Woodside Energy, Petrosen, Petronas, the Senegalese Ministry of Petroleum, the Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and regional bodies such as ECOWAS will follow in due course, along with communications to global ESG rating agencies.”
FAR Ltd has been formally notified of the letter but has not responded to date.
M’Bai emphasised his commitment to “cooperating fully with the Access to Information Commission” while asserting that “the right of the Gambian people to know is not subordinate to diplomatic delays or procedural silence.”
Key Allegations in the Open Letter
In his formal letter to FAR Ltd’s Board of Directors and shareholders, M’Bai raises several serious concerns about the company’s operations and withdrawal from The Gambia.
M’Bai notes that “FAR (Gambia) Ltd. was permitted to relinquish its exploration licences under exceptionally favourable terms, despite failing to fulfil its full contractual work obligations.” He points out that this waiver occurred “while FAR Ltd had received in excess of USD $500 million in cash and assumed liabilities from Woodside Energy for its interest in the Sangomar field.”
The letter identifies three primary areas of concern:
Misleading Representation of Drilling Activity: M’Bai alleges that “FAR (Gambia) Ltd.’s surrender letter of 27 January 2023 claims that three wells were drilled. In reality, only two principal wells; Samo-1 and Bambo-1, were ‘completed’, with the third being a side-track of Bambo-1.” He describes this as “at best, a technical inaccuracy and, at worst, a deliberate inflation of work completed.”
Lack of Regulatory Oversight: According to M’Bai, “The Gambia Petroleum Commission has not, despite repeated formal requests, disclosed any quality-assurance measures taken before accepting FAR’s final data submission.” He states that the so-called “Master Inventory” was “accepted without audit or technical verification.”
Ethical and Financial Concerns: M’Bai highlights that “in a country where health, education and infrastructure suffer from chronic underfunding, the unexplained waiver of estimated obligations valued at USD $22 million (exclusive of interest) is deeply troubling.”
Technical Disputes and Transparency Issues
The letter also challenges FAR Ltd’s technical conclusions about The Gambia’s oil potential. M’Bai notes that FAR Ltd’s August 2022 announcement claimed that reservoir levels in the Bambo-1 well “were lateral equivalents to those in the Sangomar field, and that hydrocarbons in those intervals ‘extend into The Gambia.'” However, the company simultaneously concluded these zones were non-commercial due to “poor reservoir quality.”
M’Bai argues that “these findings were not independently verified” and that “FAR (Gambia) Ltd denied Gambian officials real-time verification access during drilling of the Bambo well which it unilaterally declared a ‘tight hole’ and refused point blank to disclose its drilling data.”
He suggests that FAR Ltd’s phrasing that “Sangomar oil extends into The Gambia” is “geologically ambiguous” and questions whether the company “deliberately avoided using the more precise term ‘Sangomar reservoir.'”
Five-Point Demand for Accountability
M’Bai’s letter concludes with five specific demands to FAR Ltd’s Board and shareholders:
- Disclose the exact terms under which the licence waivers were negotiated and obtained
- Justify the inclusion of the sidetrack as a standalone well
- Reimburse The Gambia for the full value of waived obligations, estimated at USD $22 million plus 8% accrued interest
- Publicly explain what ethical review was undertaken before relinquishing the licences on such generous terms
- Submit full drilling data to an independent audit by a reputable international geoscience firm
On the final point, M’Bai argues that such an audit “would provide a credible and impartial assessment of the technical basis for FAR(Gambia) Ltd and FAR Ltd.’s conclusions, including the assertion that oil in the Bambo wells was non-recoverable.”
He concludes: “Transparency, equity, and accountability should not be optional when operating in resource-dependent and governance vulnerable jurisdictions.”
FULL TEXT OF THE OPEN LETTER
The complete text of M’Bai’s open letter to FAR Ltd follows:
OFFICE OF OUSMAN F. M’BAI
C/O FANA FANA CHAMBERS, P.O. Box 990, Banjul, The Gambia
Date: 5th June 2025
Our Ref: OFM/5/6/25/FAR Ltd.
Letter to FAR Ltd (Open Letter to the Board and Shareholders)
Subject: Open Letter Regarding FAR Ltd.’s Exit from The Gambia – Transparency and Shareholder Responsibility, and Ethical Conduct
Dear Board Members and Shareholders 2017-2025,
I write to you concerning the circumstances surrounding FAR Ltd.’s operations and eventual withdrawal from The Gambia’s offshore Blocks A2 and A5. As the majority joint shareholder of FAR (Gambia) Ltd and as of 2023 its sole shareholder, your company bears ultimate responsibility for the conduct and outcomes of its Gambian subsidiary.
It is now a matter of public record that FAR (Gambia) Ltd. was permitted to relinquish its exploration licences under exceptionally favourable terms, despite failing to fulfil its full contractual work obligations. These obligations, explicitly laid out in the original licence and later deleted through two Deeds of Amendment, were waived by the Government of The Gambia, a country that remains one of the most impoverished and aid-dependent nations in the world.
Crucially, this waiver occurred while FAR Ltd had received in excess of USD $500 million in cash and assumed liabilities from Woodside Energy for its interest in the Sangomar field. That field lies immediately adjacent to Gambian waters and was drilled concurrently with FAR(Gambia) Ltd.’s activities in A2 and A5.
Further concerns arise from:
- Misleading Representation of Drilling Activity
FAR (Gambia) Ltd.’s surrender letter of 27 January 2023 claims that three wells were drilled. In reality, only two principal wells; Samo-1 and Bambo-1, were “completed”, with the third being a side-track of Bambo-1. The inclusion of a side-track as a standalone well is, at best, a technical inaccuracy and, at worst, a deliberate inflation of work completed. What else have they got wrong or inflated?
- Lack of Oversight or Review by the Regulator
The Gambia Petroleum Commission has not, despite repeated formal requests, disclosed any quality-assurance measures taken before accepting FAR’s final data submission. This includes the so-called “Master Inventory” which was accepted without audit or technical verification before the closure of FAR (Gambia) Ltd.’s file. In fact, the GPC has stated it is not aware of having issued any quality-assurance certificate to FAR (Gambia) Ltd.
- Ethical Accountability and Public Interest
In a country where health, education and infrastructure suffer from chronic underfunding, the unexplained waiver of estimated obligations valued at USD $22 million (exclusive of interest) is deeply troubling. FAR Ltd.’s own annual filings refer to “generous statutory waivers,” yet neither the rationale nor the ethical justification for receiving such relief has been disclosed.
Furthermore, FAR Ltd.’s 22 August 2022 ASX (Australia Stock Exchange) announcement claimed that the “S440 and S408” reservoir levels in the Bambo-1 well were lateral equivalents to those in the Sangomar field, and that hydrocarbons in those intervals “extend into The Gambia.” Yet, the company simultaneously concluded that these zones were non-commercial due to “poor reservoir quality.”
These findings were not independently verified and, crucially, FAR (Gambia) Ltd denied Gambian officials real-time verification access during drilling of the Bambo well which it unilaterally declared a ‘tight hole’ and refused point blank to disclose its drilling data. The Gambia Petroleum Commission has not confirmed any independent review of the raw drilling data, well logs, or core samples. There is no technical transparency about how conclusions were reached.
Additionally, FAR Ltd.’s phrasing that the “Sangomar oil extends into The Gambia” is geologically ambiguous and raises questions about whether the company deliberately avoided using the more precise term “Sangomar reservoir.” This subtle distinction has critical implications for transboundary resource claims. The omission of any discussion of reservoir connectivity especially when Sangomar’s 23 wells are themselves linked/inter-connected across vast distances, further casts doubt on the objectivity of the reported results.
Such statements, absent transparency or third-party validation, may serve to downgrade The Gambia’s resource potential while indirectly favouring Senegal’s existing production in which FAR Ltd currently has a contingent vested interest amounting to USD $55 million until 2027. The geopolitical consequences of this are significant, particularly in a region where The Gambia has no current resource-sharing agreement with Senegal under the MSGBC framework, unlike Senegal’s arrangements with Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau.
In light of these developments, I call on FAR Ltd.’s Board and its shareholders to:
- Disclose the exact terms under which the licence waivers were negotiated and obtained;
- Justify the inclusion of the sidetrack as a standalone well;
- Reimburse the People/Government of The Gambia for the full value of the waived obligations, estimated at USD $22 million. This figure must be adjusted at 8% accrued interest from the date the waiver was granted;
- Publicly explain what ethical review, if any, was undertaken before relinquishing the licences on such generous terms especially given The Gambia’s status as an extremely poor underdeveloped nation;
- FAR Ltd to submit its full suite of drilling data, including MDT logs, pressure readings, and core analyses, to an independent audit by a reputable international geoscience firm. Such an audit would provide a credible and impartial assessment of the technical basis for FAR(Gambia) Ltd and FAR Ltd.’s conclusions, including the assertion that oil in the Bambo wells was non-recoverable. It would also bring needed clarity to the broader question of hydrocarbon connectivity between the Sangomar field and The Gambia’s A2 licence area. I believe this would be a responsible and commendable step, aligning with FAR Ltd.’s ESG obligations and its duty to shareholders, host nations, and the investing public.
Transparency, equity, and accountability should not be optional when operating in resource-dependent and governance vulnerable jurisdictions.
Sincerely,
Ousman F. M’Bai
London/UK
GAF’s alleged failure to support Ceesay was a deeper wound than the injury itself. His contract, according to him, guaranteed medical expense coverage, yet the club turned its back. “I got injured on Monday at the GAF training ground,” he said, the betrayal searing. “The funniest thing is, it was stated they’d take care of all medical expenses.” For a year, he trekked twice weekly from Jamcity to Banjul, pleading for help, only to face silence. “I followed them for a whole year, but I couldn’t get support,” he said, his voice thick with betrayal. GAF’s alleged broken promise abandoned him to a career-threatening injury, leaving the striker who had fueled their glory to fend for himself.
Stuck in Place: Gambia’s Unseen Migration Crisis of Involuntary Immobility
By: Alieu Jallow
While images of overcrowded boats crossing the Mediterranean often dominate global migration narratives, a quieter and more insidious crisis is unfolding in The Gambia. Dubbed “involuntary immobility,” it refers to the growing number of young Gambians who desperately want to migrate but lack the means to do so. According to migration expert Muhammed Lamin Dibba, this phenomenon is fueling a national crisis of youth unemployment and social decay.
“Involuntary immobility represents an equally pressing yet overlooked crisis affecting The Gambia,” Dibba writes in a recent expert opinion. “This phenomenon has profound consequences, not least of which is fueling a burgeoning youth unemployment crisis that threatens the very fabric of Gambian society.”
Historically, The Gambia has been part of a vibrant cross-border economy. “The Gambia has been a dynamic economic unit for West African countries,” Dibba notes, pointing to long-standing migration flows with Senegal and Mauritania. But today, economic stagnation, lack of job prospects, and limited educational opportunities have rendered these traditional migration routes unattainable for many.
The desire to leave, especially for Europe, is strong. However, Dibba highlights that “for a generation, these aspirations remain unfulfilled,” referencing sociologist Hein de Haas’s work on involuntary immobility—a condition where people have the will but not the means to migrate.
“These young potential migrants grow increasingly impatient with their circumstances at home. Most of them have no other alternatives, such as pursuing education, starting a business, or pursuing an apprenticeship,” Dibba states.
The fallout is visible and alarming.
“The shattered aspiration to migrate for a better life has given rise to a wave of social vices such as theft, murder, and suicide,” Dibba warns.
In Brikama, the epicenter of the crisis, 21.7% of youth are unemployed, despite the region housing nearly half (46.3%) of the country’s working-age population.
“Brikama alone accounts for the highest number of emigrants,” Dibba adds, citing 13,768 who used irregular routes and 7,698 who left through legal channels.
Understanding the Unemployment Trap
The root causes are complex, but Dibba identifies three major culprits:
• Skills Mismatch:
“Many young graduates are ready to enter the labor market, but the skills they’ve acquired often don’t align with available jobs,” he writes.
• Weak Entrepreneurial Ecosystem:
“An outdated school curriculum that neglects vocational, practical, and employability training” is leaving students unprepared for real-world demands.
• Governance Deficits:
Dibba criticizes political leaders for neglecting youth needs. “The pursuit of power retention and personal enrichment at the expense of national development leaves little room for initiatives that could genuinely empower young people,” he states.
Charting a Way Forward
To tackle this growing crisis, Dibba recommends a multi-layered approach.
“The young Gambian citizens need an early orientation about citizenship, patriotism, and the importance of education for self and country,” he writes, calling for curriculum reform to incorporate employability and entrepreneurship training.
Even existing initiatives need improvement.
“Even projects like the EU–Youth Empowerment Project fall short without proper support systems. These young people need guidance, support, and supervision for a specific period to yield the dividends of their business,” Dibba advises.
He also stresses the importance of school-level interventions:
“All upper basic, senior secondary schools, and tertiary institutions should have effective and efficient career counselors to offer career guidance,” he says.
Dibba’s message is clear: unless policymakers act swiftly, the silent crisis of involuntary immobility could erode the hopes of a generation.
“Only by understanding and actively addressing the silent crisis can The Gambia unlock the potential of its vibrant youth and steer towards a future of sustainable development and prosperity,” he concludes.