Africa-Press – Gambia. The Gambia’s National Assembly on Tuesday advanced the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Bill 2025, taking a major step toward strengthening the country’s capacity to anticipate and respond to threats to human security.
Meeting as a Committee of the Whole Assembly under Order 72 of the Standing Orders, lawmakers undertook a clause-by-clause review of the draft legislation in the presence of Vice-President [name not provided] and technical advisers. The exercise enabled members to scrutinise the bill’s operational framework and consider amendments proposed by the joint committees on Environment, Defence and Security, and Environment and Sustainable Development.
A key amendment approved by the Assembly was the adjustment of the bill’s short title to reflect the year 2025. Members also debated the definition of “human security pillars” under Clause 2. While the original draft listed “crime” as a pillar, legislators agreed to replace it with “safety and security,” in line with regional human security protocols adopted by ECOWAS heads of state in 1999. The other pillars – governance, human rights, environment and health – were retained.
Debate also centred on Clause 5, which outlines the functions of the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Coordinating Centre. Members questioned whether the centre should be required to “disseminate” information after analysing data, noting that some material may be sensitive. The Assembly eventually endorsed wording allowing dissemination “as appropriate,” balancing the need for transparency with security considerations.
Other provisions establishing the coordinating centre and its objectives were adopted without objection.
Lawmakers said the bill would enhance the country’s ability to respond to emerging threats, improve institutional coordination and reinforce human security. The revised draft, now titled the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Act 2025, will proceed to the next legislative stages before enactment.
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