By: Fatou Krubally
The rising incidence of homicide and other violent crimes dominated debate in the National Assembly on Thursday, with lawmakers expressing concern over public safety and calling for stronger measures to address what they described as a growing national challenge.
The matter was raised by the Member for Kiang East, Hon. Yaya Gassama, under Order 51 of the Standing Orders, which allows members to bring issues of urgent public importance before the Assembly.
Presenting the matter, Hon. Gassama said recent reports of killings and violent attacks had generated widespread anxiety among Gambians and raised legitimate concerns about the protection of life, property and the overall security of communities.
He reminded members that the constitution guarantees the right to life and places an obligation on the state to ensure citizens can live in peace and security. While acknowledging that no society is entirely free from crime, he said the increasing frequency of reported killings should be a source of concern for all.
“The preservation of peace and the protection of human life are among the foremost responsibilities of any government and society,” he told lawmakers.
The Kiang East legislator further noted that violent crimes not only result in the loss of life but also leave families devastated, create fear within communities and weaken public confidence in institutions.
Contributing to the debate, the Member for Latrikunda Sabiji, Hon. Yahya Menteng Sanyang, argued that attention should be paid to the root causes of violence. He identified youth unemployment, substance abuse, land disputes and inadequate community policing as factors contributing to violent incidents.
According to him, creating employment opportunities for young people and strengthening efforts to combat drug abuse could help reduce crime and violence.
The Member for Central Badibou, Hon. Sulayman Saho, blamed the government for failing to adequately protect citizens, insisting that security institutions must be properly equipped to fulfil their constitutional mandate.
He called for greater scrutiny of the recent incidents and urged the National Assembly’s security committee to investigate the situation and report back to Parliament.
Bakau lawmaker Hon. Assan Touray also voiced concern over the trend, describing the increasing reports of violent attacks as troubling and urging authorities to take security matters more seriously.
Nominated member Kebba Lang Fofana, however, stressed that maintaining peace is a collective responsibility. While recognising the role of government in strengthening security institutions, he urged citizens, families and community leaders to promote peaceful conflict resolution and discourage violence.
With members offering different perspectives on the causes of the problem, despite their differences, there was broad agreement that greater efforts are needed to preserve the peace and security for which The Gambia has long been known.
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