Darboe Vows Crackdown on Hate Speech, Says Tribalism Has No Place in The Gambia

By Seedy Jobe

United Democratic Party (UDP) leader and Secretary General ANM Ousainu Darboe has pledged to confront tribalism and hate speech if elected president, warning that ethnic divisions pose a serious threat to national unity and peaceful coexistence in The Gambia.

Speaking at a UDP town hall meeting, Mr. Darboe said responsible leadership requires rejecting rhetoric and conduct that divide citizens along ethnic lines. He expressed concern over what he described as the growing polarization of Gambian society, arguing that tribalism must not be allowed to undermine the country’s social fabric.

Mr. Darboe maintained that restoring national unity should be the foremost responsibility of any government that succeeds the ruling National People’s Party (NPP).

He said a new administration must work to foster a shared national identity in which Gambians regard one another as members of the same family, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds.

According to the opposition leader, citizens should be judged not by their tribal affiliations but by their common identity as Gambians.

Drawing on the national anthem, Mr. Darboe referenced its call for Gambians to “join our diverse peoples to prove man’s brotherhood,” saying the principle should guide the country’s approach to national cohesion.

He pledged that his administration would confront tribalism directly and take firm action against individuals who promote hatred or incite divisions.

Addressing the legal framework governing hate speech, Mr. Darboe acknowledged ongoing debate over whether The Gambia needs specific legislation to prohibit such conduct.

While some have advocated the reintroduction of laws explicitly criminalizing hate speech, he argued that existing legislation already provides mechanisms for addressing certain forms of inflammatory behavior.

He cited provisions dealing with conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace as an example of legal measures that could be invoked against individuals whose actions threaten public order.

Mr. Darboe emphasized that enforcement would apply equally to everyone, regardless of political affiliation or position within his party.

“Even if you are a UDP chairman and engage in hate speech, we will set an example with you,” he warned.

The UDP leader insisted that political loyalty would not shield anyone from accountability, maintaining that his administration would not tolerate conduct capable of provoking violence or undermining national stability.

He further pledged to ensure that ethnic hostility and inflammatory political rhetoric do not become accepted features of public discourse under his leadership.

Mr. Darboe said preserving peace and national unity would remain central to his approach to governance, stressing that political differences must never be allowed to threaten the country’s longstanding tradition of coexistence among its diverse communities.