History

The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC) is the apex Islamic authority in The Gambia. It was established in 1992 to “cater for, preserve, protect, promote and advance the interest of Islam and Muslims throughout the country” and has been responsible for the unity of The Gambian Muslims as the official body, recognised by The Government of The Gambia (GoTG), coordinating the affairs of Islam in The Gambia. The GSIC is headquartered along the M.D.I. Road, Kanifing, The Gambia.

The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC) was established in 1992 at a national congress of Gambian Muslim leaders at the Independence Stadium under the auspices of Sheikh Alhaji Soriba Jabbi, a renowned Jahanka Cleric from Jarra Sutukung village, Jarra East District of The Gambia.

Prior to this congress, the Late Sheikh Alhaji Soriba Jabbi led a team of Muslim Clerics and embarked on a countrywide tour to many Islamic centres in The Gambia to enlighten their heads about the necessity to form a supreme body of Gambian Muslims through which all the issues affecting the general welfare of Gambian Muslims would be channelled.

After getting the overwhelming endorsement, he summoned a stakeholders’ meeting of Islamic centres in his native village, Sutukung, through which the final blueprint for the establishment of the Supreme Islamic Council was actualized. On the heels of this landmark gathering, Alhaji Soriba proceeded to get the support of the GoTG then headed by the late Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara. Sheikh Alhaji Soriba Jabbi succeeded in getting the executive nod to go ahead with the process of forming the body and he was given all the needed support, which enabled Muslim clerics across the country to work hand-in-hand to create The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC).

The landmark convergence at the Independence Stadium in 1992 came as an answer to the call for an all-embracing central leadership that would serve as the unifier and bridge among different Muslim groups in the country. It has also been described as a turning point for it, starting from then, enables Muslims all over the country to interact with the government in one voice on all matters of concern to Islam.

The council’s mandate to serve as the apex leadership body for the Gambian Muslim community was first undertaken by the First President, Sheikh Alhaji Soriba Jabbi (Rahmatullaah Alayhi) from 1992 to 1996. Sheikh Ahmad Cherno (Banding) Drammeh (Rahmatullaah Alayhi) became the Second President in 1996 and served until 2008. Sheikh Muhammad Lamin Touray became the Third President in 2008 and served until 2021. The Current President, Sheikh Essa Foday Darboe, is the Fourth President and began his two-term tenure in 2021.