An alliance of eminent civil society organisations has raised critical concerns over the pace and fate of the Security Sector Reform (SSR) in The Gambia by submitting a position paper to the Ministry of Interior through the Interior Minister, Abdoulie Sanyang, Esq.
The coalition include Activista The Gambia, Beakanyang, Center for Budget and Macroeconomic Transparency (CBMT Gambia), Charter Seventy (C70), Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ), Fantanka, Movement for Social Justice (MSJ-4), and Music For Change.
The notable Solo Sandeng Foundation, Team Gom Sa Bopa, The National Youth Parliament of The Gambia (NYP), Think Young Women and Women’s Association for Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE-Gambia) are also among the thirteen CSO signatories.
The groups lamented that nearly a decade since 2016, the SSR agenda remains incomplete, hindered by institutional inertia, political hesitation, and fragmented implementation.
While acknowledging government’s commitment to reform, it expressed that “tangible reforms have been slow and uneven, reflecting enduring challenges, such as political interference, inadequate coordination and resistance within security institutions”.
The gap between policy and practice, it said, threatens to erode Gambians’ confidence in the security apparatus, and puts at risk the hard-won democratic gains and national peace.
It thus called for urgent, measurable actions rooted in transparency, accountability, and inclusive participation of civil society and citizens in the SSR process.
“We call for the establishment of fully independent oversight bodies, comprehensive training reforms for security personnel, transparent recruitment and promotion practices, and the deployment of technology to enhance accountability and community engagement”.
The alliance highlighted that by providing detailed, actionable recommendations, its position paper seeks to catalyse renewed political will and collaborative engagement among the Government, National Assembly, security agencies, oversight institutions, civil society organizations and international partners to decisively advance the SSR agenda.
Its collective objective, it conveyed, is a security sector that not only protects but also serves the people of The Gambia with professionalism, respect for human rights and adherence to the rule of law.
“We remain hopeful that this document will contribute meaningfully to the national discourse on security reform, and inform policy and programming that secures lasting peace, justice and democratic resilience for all Gambians,” the position paper stressed.
