By Sering Mass Jallow
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) on Tuesday convened a high-level dialogue with the country’s security institutions to strengthen the safety and protection of journalists ahead of the December 2026 presidential election.
The day-long engagement, held at the National Nutrition Agency conference hall in Kanifing, formed part of the GPU’s broader initiative to enhance the physical and digital safety of journalists during the 2026–2027 electoral cycle.
The meeting brought together senior representatives of the Gambia Police Force, the Gambia Armed Forces and the Gambia Immigration Department to discuss cooperation between the media and security services during the election period.
Addressing participants, GPU Secretary General Modou Joof said the dialogue was intended to deepen mutual understanding between journalists and security personnel while promoting a peaceful, free, fair and transparent electoral process.
He said the engagement would provide an opportunity for both sides to better understand their respective roles and explore ways to strengthen cooperation to enable journalists to carry out their constitutional mandate without intimidation or obstruction.
Joof adds that a safe operating environment for journalists is essential to ensuring the public receives accurate and timely information to make informed electoral choices.
Speaking on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ebrima Bah described the dialogue as an important platform for building trust and mutual respect between the media and security institutions.
He reaffirmed the Gambia Police Force’s commitment to safeguarding the constitutional rights of all Gambians and ensuring that the electoral process was conducted in a peaceful, secure and democratic environment.
Representing the Chief of Defence Staff, Colonel Lamin K. Sanyang said the engagement demonstrated the continued commitment of the security services to working with the media to create an environment in which journalists can perform their professional duties safely.
He said strengthening cooperation between the security sector and the media would contribute to a better-informed security service and promote press freedom and freedom of expression.
Participants expressed optimism that the dialogue would strengthen collaboration between journalists and security institutions and contribute to the protection of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and press freedom, during the electoral period.
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