100 Police Intervention Unit Officers Complete Public Order Training With Turkish Gendarmerie as Election Nears

By Seedy Jobe

One hundred officers from the Gambia Police Force’s Police Intervention Unit have completed a two-week intensive training program in public order management led by the Turkish Gendarmerie, officials said on Friday.

The course, which concluded at the P.I.U. camp in Kanifing, focused on crowd control, de-escalation techniques, and tactical response, with an emphasis on international policing standards and human rights principles. Of the officers who took part, 65 were men, and 35 were women.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Assistant Inspector General of Police Ebrima Bah, who represented the inspector general, said the training had arrived “at a time when The Gambia is deepening its democracy and also marking the beginning of the election cycle.”

“Our role as a police entity is to ensure that lawful expression is safeguarded while disorder and violence is prevented,” Mr. Bah said. “The balance between these two is very delicate, but after two weeks of intensive training, you are better prepared and equipped to maintain it.”

He urged the officers to apply their skills in crowd management, de-escalation, and the responsible use of force. “Public order management is where the reputation of the police is built or broken,” he said. “Citizens judge us by how we act when tensions are high. Use them to protect lives and property. Protect the trust and confidence people have in the badge and uniform you are wearing.”

The Turkish ambassador to Gambia, Fahri Türker Oba, said the program would bolster the country’s preparations for the presidential election scheduled for December 2026 and strengthen security cooperation between the two nations.

“Türkiye remains committed to supporting The Gambia’s efforts in the fields of security, law enforcement, and professional training,” Mr. Oba said. “We firmly believe that capacity building and institutional cooperation are essential for sustainable peace, stability, and public safety.”

He added that security was “a main pillar of our bilateral relations” and expressed satisfaction that the Turkish Gendarmerie had been supporting the P.I.U. for many years.

Also addressing the gathering, Assistant Inspector General Adeline Basangeh, who oversees the P.I.U. and the Tactical Support Unit, acknowledged the longstanding partnership between the Turkish government and the Gambian police, particularly in specialized areas such as VIP protection, urban special operations, and public order management.

He described the training as timely and significant as the country prepares for national events requiring heightened public safety and operational readiness.

As part of the ceremony, the trainees staged a practical demonstration simulating a riot management operation to showcase the tactics and procedures they had learned. The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to the officers and gifts to the trainers.