Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- The National Assembly’s decision to adjourn without debate for the second time this year has triggered criticism, with opposition members accusing the ruling NPP majority of silencing urgent national concerns.
Two lawmakers from Foni, Hon. Almani Gibba of Kansala and Hon. Bakary K. Badjie of Bintang, were among the critics. They argue that blocking the adjournment debate, traditionally the only opportunity for members to freely raise issues on behalf of their constituencies, amounts to deliberate censorship at a time when the country is grappling with insecurity, corruption scandals, and economic turmoil.
“This is not just procedure, it is silencing the people,” Hon. Gibba declared. He pointed to the alleged killing of a young man, Omar Badjie, in Mandinaring by police officers, the controversial removal of the Auditor General, and the continued presence of Senegalese troops in Foni, which he claims has led to harassment, land seizures, and sexual violence. “If Parliament cannot debate killings and corruption, then what exactly is it representing?”
Hon. Badjie shared the frustration, describing the adjournment as a cover-up that denies Gambians the right to accountability. He warned that the move creates the illusion that all is well when, in reality, the country is “falling apart.” Badjie cited the free fall of the dalasi, the rise in protests, and what he called “weak international representation” as issues that demanded scrutiny in the Assembly. “To shut us down is to pretend nothing is wrong,” he said.
The adjournment was moved by nominated member Hon. Kebba Lang Fofana, who defended the decision as procedural rather than political. He insisted that lawmakers still have other platforms to raise matters of concern. But the opposition is not convinced, accusing the majority of repeatedly using its numbers to shield the government from difficult debates.
This is the second time the Assembly has adjourned without debate in the current session, a pattern opposition members say undermines the very purpose of the legislature. For them, refusing to confront issues such as extrajudicial killings, missing investigation reports, and allegations of corruption in food aid distribution is a betrayal of the Gambian people.
As tensions grow, critics warn that silence in the Assembly will not stop anger from spilling into the streets. For now, the question hangs heavy: if the country’s lawmakers cannot debate the crises that grip the nation, who will?
