In an exclusive interview, Sheikh Tijan Gaye, a widely known youth leader, activist and public affairs commentator, has called for the enactment of the death penalty amid a worrying surge in violent crimes across The Gambia. Gaye believes this could be an effective deterrent for violent crimes.
Analysing what he terms an “unprecedented rate” of violent crimes in the country at the moment, including the recent murder of the late Yunusa Mbye, his friend and graduate assistant at the School of Education in the University of The Gambia (UTG), Gaye maintains that the Gambia has now become a dangerous country.
Gaye, who doubles as a final year political science student at the University of The Gambia, underscores that violent crimes like murder and rape and arson are becoming common, describing the loss of Yunusa and other youths as a generational loss. “Knowing Yunusa compels me to speak of his death as a loss of generational wisdom,” he says.
The young activist dismisses the statistics announced by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), which says crimes have reduced in 2026 compared to last year. He says this is not the reality on the ground.
Sheikh noted further: “Crimes stem from frustration, caused by unemployment and lack of opportunities for young people. When the state fails to deliver, many young people look for alternatives, and end up idling and committing crimes.”
“The government, through the police, has the responsibility to protect the lives and properties of the Gambian citizens. We were promised tangible security sector reforms, but things are getting out of hand as we are speaking. Society and citizens still feel unsafe. Many Gambians now fear being robbed or stabbed, even at home or on the street. In just one month, we had lost many youths to violent disputes. This signals that the government must not only act but also provide employment for young people. We also need better emergency health equipment to attend to victims of serious injuries.”
Sheikh calls for the death penalty, which had been halted by an official moratorium by the President since 2018 before being repealed by the Criminal Offences Act 2025, which stipulates life imprisonment for murder. He opined that life imprisonment is not enough as a deterrent.
The young commentator displays grave concern as he disagrees with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which calls for the repeal of section 18(1) of the 1997 Constitution, which provides a constitutional recognition or possibility of the death penalty. He avers that this is not a time to weaken the law and give a chance to criminals to commit crimes.
As The Gambia heads into an election period, Sheikh urges for more police presence at public gatherings and routine patrols, especially in crime hubs.
He concluded, saying: “The rise in crime stems from institutional failure. The repeal of the death penalty has removed fear from the citizens, and the government’s failure to implement security reforms has made it harder to protect the lives and properties of the citizens in this country. I think as of now, the country needs Section 18(1). We also need the death penalty to be back to protect citizens lives and further mitigate the violence within communities.”
