By: Yunus S. Saliu
In a remarkable show of civic responsibility and unity, Sulayman Jukung Sawaneh, a Gambian-Denmark-based philanthropist, has commended the organizers of the recent peaceful protest against corruption in The Gambia, hailing it as a step in the right direction in the country’s democratic journey.
The protest, led by Gambia Against Looted Assets (GALA) and staged on Wednesday, drew a large and diverse crowd and proceeded without any incident of violence, intimidation, or unlawful disruption.
Speaking to this medium via telephone, Sawaneh, who had followed the event online, praised GALA, the Gambia Police Force, the authorities, and the general public for ensuring the protest was conducted lawfully and respectfully.
“This is one of the finest examples of civic engagement I’ve witnessed in The Gambia,” he remarked. “GALA has demonstrated that citizens can demand accountability and good governance while remaining peaceful and law-abiding.”
He, especially, applauded the Gambia Police Force for maintaining professionalism throughout the protest, stating, “It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen our police participate in such a positive way during a protest neither harassing the public nor being harassed themselves. This shows progress.”
Sawaneh also commended the authorities for not using executive power to suppress the demonstration, instead allowing citizens to express themselves freely and ensuring their petitions were received.
“This is how a democracy should function, people voicing their concerns, and leaders listening,” he said.
But beyond the peaceful nature of the protest, Sawaneh drew attention to its core message: a national stand against corruption. He emphasized that corruption remains one of the most destructive forces in The Gambia, undermining public trust, weakening institutions, and draining resources that should be invested in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social development.
“Corruption is like a virus. It eats away at the very fabric of society,” he stressed. “It denies our young people opportunity, limits growth, and keeps our country in a cycle of poverty and dependency.”
He said initiatives like GALA are not political or personal but rather patriotic, focused on ensuring transparency and accountability for a better Gambia.
According to him, corruption must be tackled from all fronts, through protests, legislation, civic education, and by holding leaders accountable.
Sawaneh urged all Gambians, both at home and abroad, to rally behind efforts that promote good governance and to remain actively involved in the country’s democratic process. He concluded with a call to action: “Let it be the start of a long-term, collective mission to uproot corruption and restore dignity, justice, and hope to our nation.”
Meanwhile, the peaceful protest was organized under the theme of accountability and transparency, and it is the second GALA’s major demonstration since it was set up some time this year. GALA’s major concern is about public sector accountability.
During its protest on Wednesday, GALA presented five petitions addressed to different relevant authorities, including the Office of the President, calling for immediate executive action on the findings of a joint committee report from the National Assembly on the alleged embezzlement of $30 million in the petroleum sector. The second petition was delivered to the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, urging the lawmakers to initiate an independent investigation into irregularities surrounding land allocations in the country. The third of the petitions was handed over to the Gambia Association of Local Governments, requesting a clean audit and investigation into financial mismanagement within the local councils for the recovery of looted funds and disciplinary measures to be taken against officials implicated in corruption.
Also, the fourth petition was delivered to the National Sports Council and the Gambia Football Federation, demanding that they release the long-awaited investigation reports concerning alleged corruption within the GFF. While the final petition urged the Office of the President to act swiftly on the recommendations issued by the National Assembly Inquiry on the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) crisis, killing over seventy children in 2022.
However, what the GALA and the people have shown is that people are no longer silent. It is good to build on this momentum and continue to stand up against all forms of looting and abuse of power.