Africa-Press – Gambia. The Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, has emphasized that The Gambia is governed by the rule of law and called on citizens—particularly the youth—to respect legal procedures when exercising their right to protest.
Speaking in an interview with West Coast Radio, Dr. Ceesay said the government welcomes civic participation and acknowledges the concerns of young people, but insisted that demonstrations must remain within the confines of the law.
“Our position is that the country is a country of law; we don’t mind young people expressing their concerns, but also participating in the public discourse or in the politics of this country. We listen to their concerns, and we are with them, but they must follow the law if they want to protest,” he said.
When asked about recent arrests of protesters, the minister declined to comment directly, citing the ongoing judicial process. “Talking about the arrest of the protesters, I cannot comment; the case is now sub judice, it is in the courts, and it is now for the courts to deal with,” he said.
Dr. Ceesay reiterated that the government supports peaceful assembly when proper procedures are followed, particularly the requirement to obtain a police permit. He explained that the permit system is intended not to stifle dissent but to ensure the safety of both demonstrators and the wider public.
“If you want to protest or you want to assemble, seek the right permit, and the government will give it to you and protect you. That is why we give the permit to protect you,” he stated.
According to the minister, the police have a record of granting permits, including to opposition groups. He cited recent examples such as the Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) protest and a United Democratic Party (UDP) demonstration against the issuance of ID cards abroad.
“The second GALA protest government gave them a permit. Recently, the UDP came out last weekend to protest against the issuance of ID cards abroad; police gave them a permit,” he noted.
He further stressed that the role of the police extends beyond law enforcement. “The police are here to protect the citizens, the police are here to enforce the law, but the police are also here to protect the rights of those who are not protesting. So the right you have to protest is the right others have to live in peace. When you protest and seek the right permit, the police will do an assessment of the security situation, and if they think it is not a threat to national security, they will give you the permit, and they will protect you, but what we want to advise people is not to take the law into their own hands or to break the law by protesting without permit” he cautioned.
Addressing allegations of police brutality, the minister defended the security forces, arguing that their duty is to maintain public order. He said police actions such as dispersing unauthorized gatherings are operational decisions rather than signs of repression.
Dr. Ceesay also rejected suggestions that the current administration is authoritarian, maintaining that Gambians enjoy greater freedoms today than under the previous regime.
“No one is repressing anybody in this country; this country is now freer than ever before. The rule of law is being applied at all levels, people are freer now to speak their mind, and the police are applying the law within the bounds of the law, obviously, so if the police are forced to resort to action to maintain public order, that is an operational issue that doesn’t mean that there is repression,” he concluded.
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