By Makutu Manneh
Thirteen civil society organizations have called on the Gambian government to offer competitive salaries and better incentives to security personnel as part of efforts to combat bribery and corruption within the country’s security institutions.
In a joint position paper on The Gambia’s ongoing Security Sector Reform (SSR), the organizations also urged authorities to provide medical insurance, legal assistance, favorable retirement benefits, and improved working and living conditions for officers.
They warned that nearly a decade after the launch of the SSR process, progress has been “slow, uneven, and at times regressive,” leaving the sector at a critical crossroads.
“Despite the establishment of solid policy frameworks and the goodwill of international partners, the transformative impact that Gambians hoped for remains largely unrealized,” the organizations stated.
They stressed that transforming The Gambia’s security sector is vital to strengthening democratic governance and protecting the rights of all citizens.
According to the statement, a people-centered, rights-based, and accountable approach to reform is not only a moral imperative but also a practical necessity to rebuild public trust in law enforcement.
“The recommendations outlined in this paper provide a clear and actionable roadmap for building a professional police service that upholds, rather than undermines, human rights,” the groups emphasized.
For the SSR process to succeed, the organizations urged Gambian authorities to move beyond rhetoric and demonstrate genuine political will through tangible action—by prioritizing accountability, strengthening civilian oversight, and promoting transparency within security institutions.
They further called on security personnel themselves to embrace reform and uphold professionalism, human rights, and service to the nation above political interests.
The groups appealed to all stakeholders—including the government, National Assembly, Ministry of Interior, National Human Rights Commission, civil society organizations, and development partners—to act with urgency and unity.
“Genuine political will, legal reforms, institutional restructuring, expanded oversight, and strategic funding alignment are critical to ensuring that security sector reform delivers justice, accountability, and lasting peace for the people of The Gambia,” the position paper concluded.