By Binta Jaiteh
The National Centre for Civic Education (NCCE) has called on political actors and state authorities to refrain from actions that could threaten national peace, unity and stability ahead of the 5 December 2026 presidential election.
NCCE Chairman Momodou A. Sise made the call on Friday while addressing journalists in Kotu during a briefing focused on “Building Democratic Resilience Through Citizen Engagement.”
Sise said the engagement was grounded in the conviction that citizens deserved clear, timely and accurate information, particularly during an election period.
He stressed the critical role of the media in providing reliable information and said the NCCE remained committed to working with stakeholders to fulfil its constitutional mandate, strengthen democracy and promote meaningful civic participation.
He said the Centre had intensified its civic and voter education activities ahead of the presidential election, including nationwide outreach programs, media broadcasts, sensitization campaigns and dialogue initiatives.
“Our core mission is centered on strengthening democratic resilience and electoral integrity, promoting mass inclusive participation, combating hate speech and identity-based polarization, debunking misinformation and cementing social cohesion,” Sise remarked.
The NCCE chairman said the institution had also taken steps to address inflammatory rhetoric, hate speech and misinformation through capacity-building workshops.
He said more than 600 people, including social media influencers, political representatives and community leaders, had participated in the workshops aimed at countering misinformation, disinformation and hate speech throughout the electoral cycle.
Sise urged Gambians to place national interests above political affiliations and preserve the country’s tradition of peaceful coexistence.
“We should remember that our shared identity as Gambians transcends all political affiliations. True patriotism is measured by our protection of peace and mutual respect,” he added.
The briefing also underscored the media’s responsibility to promote accurate and timely information, counter misinformation and hate speech, strengthen electoral integrity and support peaceful political participation throughout the electoral process.
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