GPU President Calls for Greater Protection of Journalists Ahead of December Election

By Seedy Jobe

The president of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), Isatou Keita, has called for stronger safeguards and greater accountability for attacks against journalists as the country prepares for the December 5 presidential election, warning that intimidation and harassment of media professionals remain persistent threats to press freedom.

Speaking during an interview with Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) on Thursday, Ms. Keita outlined the measures the union is pursuing to protect journalists during the electoral process, including engagements with political parties, security agencies, and prosecutors.

She emphasized the critical role journalists play in democratic elections, describing them as an essential link between political leaders and the public. Beyond reporting political developments, she said, journalists are responsible for scrutinizing those in power and providing voters with credible information to make informed electoral choices.

But fulfilling that responsibility, she noted, often exposes journalists to intimidation, physical assaults, and restrictions on access to information, particularly from political party supporters, security personnel, and public officials.

Ms. Keita expressed frustration over what she described as a persistent culture of impunity, saying attacks against journalists frequently go unpunished despite complaints to law enforcement authorities.

“And most of the time, when they are attacked, harassed, or assaulted, what we do is come out and condemn or even take the matter to the police to follow up. But most of the time, nobody is held accountable,” she said.

She also raised concerns about growing online harassment, particularly from individuals who resist public scrutiny or expect favorable media coverage. Journalism, she stressed, is guided by the public interest rather than the preferences of politicians or their supporters.

Recognizing the limitations of issuing condemnations after attacks occur, Ms. Keita said the union has adopted a more preventive approach, prioritizing dialogue, coordination, and institutional accountability.

She recalled that an assessment conducted ahead of the 2021 presidential election documented repeated attacks and intimidation against journalists. Among the incidents she cited were the assault of journalist Kebba Jeffang by political party supporters during a rally and difficulties encountered by journalist Kifa Barham while covering protests.

Those experiences, she said, prompted the GPU to engage political parties through the Inter-Party Committee to promote respect for journalists and their work.

According to Ms. Keita, the initiative produced encouraging results, with no reported attacks or assaults against journalists in the period immediately before, during or after the 2021 presidential election.

Building on that experience, the union has renewed its engagement with political parties ahead of the December vote, seeking to ensure that party leaders and supporters understand the responsibilities of journalists and respect their right to report without intimidation.

The GPU has also held discussions with police and state prosecutors to address the lack of accountability in cases involving attacks against media professionals.

Ms. Keita said those engagements were informed by the union’s findings that many complaints filed with the police had not resulted in meaningful action. The discussions, she explained, provided an opportunity to present documented cases and strengthen cooperation with law enforcement authorities.

She identified the nomination period, political campaigns and election day as particularly sensitive stages of the electoral process, when tensions between journalists and other stakeholders tend to intensify.

During nominations, she said, confrontations frequently arise between journalists and security personnel, while campaign-related incidents often involve political party supporters.

To reduce such tensions, the GPU recently convened journalists, political party representatives and security officials for discussions aimed at clarifying their respective responsibilities and resolving potential sources of conflict.

Ms. Keita stressed that although journalists and security officers perform different functions, both have a shared obligation to serve the public. While the police are responsible for protecting lives and property, journalists must be allowed to gather and report information without undue interference.

She urged all stakeholders to recognize that protecting journalists is essential not only to press freedom but also to the credibility and peaceful conduct of the election.

“If it is peaceful, it is not the journalist that wins. It is not the police officer that wins. It is The Gambia that wins at the end of the day,” she said.

Her remarks underscore the GPU’s efforts to shift from reacting to attacks toward preventing them, as the country approaches an election in which journalists are expected to play a central role in informing voters and holding political actors accountable.