The recent launch of The Gambia’s Security Sector Reform (SSR) drive marks a crucial step in the country’s journey toward peace, democracy, and accountability. Spearheaded by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund, this initiative seeks to transform the nation’s security institutions into accountable, rights-based, and gender-responsive bodies.
Under former President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule, security institutions were widely viewed as tools of repression. This legacy left deep mistrust between citizens and the forces meant to protect them. Reforming such a system is not just a technical task it is, as National Security Adviser’s representative, Mulai Colley calls it, “an investment in peace, stability, and the democratic future of our country.”
The on-going legislative reforms, including reviews of the Criminal Code, Armed Forces and Prisons Acts, and the development of a gender policy, reflect a commitment to change. Importantly, the process involves a wide range of stakeholders, government officials, civil society, academia, and oversight bodies, ensuring inclusive and transparent dialogue.
UN Resident Coordinator Karl Frederick Paul highlighted the importance of national ownership and international alignment, pointing to The Gambia’s progress as a model for post-authoritarian reform. Civilian oversight and policy updates already show promise, but what matters most is how these efforts translate into everyday improvements in public safety and trust.
Deputy Permanent Secretary Lamin Gassama’s words are worth emphasizing: “Our citizens must feel safer today than ever before.” The true measure of reform is not in policy papers or conferences, but in the lived experience of Gambians.
The Gambia now has a rare opportunity to turn the page on a dark chapter in its history. This SSR initiative must not lose momentum. It must stay rooted in accountability, human rights, and the rule of law. If done right, it will help secure the peaceful, democratic future Gambians have long deserved.
