By Makutu Manneh
The Inter-Party Committee (IPC) on Thursday convened a national conference at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, bringing together political parties and key stakeholders to discuss strategies for combating hate speech ahead of The Gambia’s 2026 presidential election.
As the umbrella body for all registered political parties, the IPC seeks to foster unity among political actors and ensure peaceful, violence-free elections.
In his remarks, Cherno M. Jallow, Vice Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), commended the IPC for organizing the timely and relevant dialogue. He noted that building inclusive, transparent, and peaceful elections requires a collective effort that extends beyond the IEC.
Mr. Jallow expressed concern that hate speech continues to be propagated by political actors across party lines, calling it a shared national challenge. He emphasized that addressing it demands not only legal and institutional measures but also genuine political will and personal commitment.
The IEC vice chairman reminded participants that The Gambia is their only home, and as political actors, they are not adversaries but partners pursuing a common goal—the nation’s progress. He affirmed that the IEC will fulfill its mandate and called on all political stakeholders to do the same.
“So that is why I would urge each and every stakeholder to make sure that the fight against hate speech is prioritized. It should not be done only at the level of the IPC but internally within political parties,” he said.
Halifa Sallah, Secretary General of the PDOIS and former IPC Chairperson, said the conference aimed to reaffirm the collective commitment of political parties to eliminate hate speech and uphold the code of conduct enshrined in the country’s electoral laws.
He reminded political leaders that parties play a critical role in shaping public opinion and should do so through constructive debate on economic, social, and political issues—not through divisive rhetoric based on gender, religion, region, or ethnicity.
“The nation belongs to us. You have your consent. I have my consent. All have equal consent which determines our representation. Mine alone cannot determine what happens in this country,” Sallah stated.
He stated that it is only together as a whole that they can change a government, “therefore we should exist in peace. That is what the IPC is saying. That is why we are here today.”
Echoing the importance of respect for every voice, IPC Chairman Saikou Bah stressed that because freedom demands responsibility, public speeches must reflect a commitment to unity and coexistence. He strongly encouraged stakeholders to prioritize constructive action to combat hate speech, stand firm against animosity, and shun violence.
Bah indicated that IPC has recently conducted a series of regional sensitization across the 8 administrative regions. He said they were able to reach more than five hundred political party leaders at the regional level.
Ndeye Rose Sarr, UNFPA Country Representative, issued a stark warning that in emerging democracies, hate speech—particularly when targeting political, ethnic, gender, or religious groups—can severely inflame divisions and undermine hard-won democratic and peaceful gains. She clarified that the UN’s strategic action plan on hate speech is not intended to restrict freedom of expression, but rather to ensure that speech is not weaponized to promote exclusion, division, or violence. Ms. Sarr further emphasized that hate speech violates the national laws, regional commitments, and international human rights standards to which The Gambia is a party.
“As the country prepares for future elections, it is crucial that political parties and individuals take a strong stand on hate speech, inflammatory language that promotes division and intolerance, she said.
The Gambia is scheduled to hold its presidential election on December 5, 2025. As of October 2025, the political scene is increasingly characterized by sharp personal attacks among party leaders — including the president — as well as individuals closely associated with various political parties.