By: Binta Jaiteh
The Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice (EFSCFRJ) has accused the Gambian government of betraying the hopes of the “New Gambia,” warning that democratic gains are being eroded by repression, corruption, and shrinking civic space.
In a statement released on Thursday, the group claimed that the recent detentions of members of Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) and Team Gom Sa Bopa were politically motivated, not criminal. It described their arrests as part of a worrying trend of government repression.
The EFSCFRJ recalled that in December 2016, Gambians united under the slogan “Gambia Has Decided,” which was a declaration of hope for a nation founded on freedom, democracy, and accountability under the principle of “Never Again.” The statement argued that these aspirations have been replaced by practices reminiscent of the past.
“Instead of safeguarding liberty, the state has resorted to arbitrary arrests and detention, police brutality, indiscriminate use of tear gas, and the suppression of dissent,” the group warned. “The ‘Never Again’ mantra has been reduced to rhetoric, while the lived reality of Gambians is one of shrinking civic space, rising corruption, and the return of practices we fought to leave behind.”
The organization urged the government to restore fundamental rights, end the persecution of protesters, and recommit to democratic values. It reminded authorities that “Never Again” was a covenant between leaders and citizens to reject repression and impunity.
The EFSCFRJ also praised GALA and Team Gom Sa Bopa for their “determined and conscious stance in defense of the Constitution and democracy.” It urged young Gambians to recognize their duty to hold the state accountable and to remain engaged in protecting the republic.
“Anything less,” the statement concluded, “risks dragging our nation back into the darkness of authoritarianism.”
The group has declared 2025 as “The Year of Transparency and Accountability,” a call it says should resonate across the country as citizens demand a democracy worthy of the sacrifices of 2016.
