Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Coalition of Progressive Gambians (CoPG) has announced that it will hold a peaceful protest on Saturday, 8th November 2025, demanding the restoration of the 2020 Draft Constitution, which the group describes as “the Progressive Constitution” reflecting the wishes of the Gambian people.
According to the CoPG, the protest will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., starting at Bond Road and ending at the National Assembly in Banjul.
The organisers say the demonstration is in response to what they call the government’s continued failure to revive the draft constitution, which emerged from a nationwide consultation process but was rejected during parliamentary proceedings in 2020.
“The Progressive Constitution is not a privilege—it is a national necessity,” the movement stated in its public notice, urging citizens, civil society organizations, and media groups to join the protest. The coalition also appealed for public donations to support the movement.
In a letter dated 6th November 2025, the Gambia Police Force confirmed that it has approved the protest, but with specific conditions.
The approval, signed by Acting Assistant Inspector General of Police (Operations), Adeline Basangeh, authorizes the procession strictly between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon, covering only the route from Bond Road to the National Assembly.
The police also stipulated that only a five-member delegation will be allowed to deliver a petition to representatives of the National Assembly and the Ministry of Justice. Press briefings must be conducted at the front gate of the National Assembly.
The permit further warned that the demonstration must remain peaceful, free from inflammatory or derogatory statements, and strictly within legal bounds. Failure to comply, it cautioned, could lead to the permit being revoked and possible criminal prosecution.
The Banjul Regional Police Command has been instructed to provide security for the protest, with CoPG advised to coordinate logistics directly with the regional police leadership.
The 2020 Draft Constitution, which sought to introduce presidential term limits among other governance reforms, remains one of the most debated political issues in The Gambia since its rejection in Parliament. The CoPG protest aims to reignite public pressure for its revival.
