The U.S. government’s push to secure market access for Elon Musk’s Starlink in Gambia has come under scrutiny after revelations that American diplomats allegedly applied pressure on Gambian officials to fast-track the company’s license approval.
- The U.S. government has allegedly pressured Gambian officials to expedite licensing for Starlink, a satellite internet service by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
- Critics have raised concerns over the ethics of leveraging aid for private corporate benefits, marking these actions as a form of crony capitalism.
- As of May 2025, Starlink remains unlicensed in The Gambia, prompting questions about the impact of such measures on African partnerships.
The campaign, detailed in a 2025 ProPublica investigation, involved at least seven Gambian ministries and included what officials described as veiled threats to withhold a $25 million infrastructure project if Starlink was not licensed.
At the center of the dispute was Communications Minister Lamin Queen Jammeh Jabbi, whose ministry had raised regulatory concerns about Starlink’s application.
In February 2025, U.S. Ambassador Sharon Cromer met with Jabbi to push for approval, citing the multimillion-dollar U.S.-funded electrical system upgrade.
“The implication was that they were connected,” said Hassan Jallow, Jabbi’s deputy, in an interview with ProPublica. “It felt like pressure.”
The high-level diplomatic push intensified after a meeting between Jabbi and Starlink executives in Washington ended without a deal.
Shortly after, Cromer wrote directly to President Adama Barrow, urging him to “facilitate the necessary approvals for Starlink to commence operations.”
Observers say the campaign reflects a deeper tension in U.S. foreign policy, balancing commercial interests with developmental partnerships. Critics argue that the U.S. State Department’s involvement crossed a line, leveraging aid to benefit a private company with close ties to politically influential figures.
“If this were done by another country, we absolutely would call this corruption,” said Kristofer Harrison, a former State Department official. Kenneth Fairfax, another ex-diplomat, described the effort as “crony capitalism.”
Starlink’s market push in Africa
Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is rapidly expanding its global footprint, with more than 6,750 satellites in orbit as of early 2025.
Its recent launch in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) marks a significant step in its African push, reinforcing Starlink’s growing dominance on the continent.
With the addition of the DRC, the company now operates in 21 African countries.
The Gambia, with its underdeveloped broadband infrastructure, represents a strategic gateway for Starlink’s ambitions in West Africa.
The U.S. has framed Starlink’s entry as part of the broader Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA) initiative, a White House-led effort to improve internet access across the continent.
But critics say the approach in Gambia reveals a more aggressive, behind-the-scenes playbook that risks undermining the sovereignty of smaller nations.
As of mid-May 2025, Starlink remains unlicensed in The Gambia, and government officials have not publicly indicated when or whether approval will be granted.
For now, the episode has sparked concern over whether diplomacy intended to support development is being repurposed to serve powerful private interests, and what that means for U.S. partnerships across Africa.
Fathia Olasupo
