Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The National Assembly’s decision to adjourn without debate for the second time this year has sparked outrage, with opposition lawmakers accusing the ruling NPP majority of silencing urgent national concerns.
Foni representatives Hon. Almameh Gibba of Foni Kansala and Hon. Bakary K. Badjie of Foni Bintang led the criticism, arguing that blocking the adjournment debate—the only opportunity for members to freely raise issues on behalf of their constituencies—amounts to deliberate censorship at a time of deep national crisis.
“This is not just procedure; it is silencing the people,” Hon. Gibba charged. He pointed to the alleged police killing of 27-year-old Omar Badjie in Mandinaring, the controversial removal of the Auditor General, and the continued presence of Senegalese troops in Foni, which he said has led to harassment, land seizures, and sexual violence. “If Parliament cannot debate killings and corruption, then what exactly is it representing?”
Hon. Badjie echoed the frustration, describing the adjournment as a cover-up that denies Gambians their right to accountability.
He warned that the decision creates the illusion of stability when, in reality, the country is “falling apart.” He cited the freefall of the dalasi, the rise in street protests, and what he described as “weak international representation” as pressing matters Parliament should be addressing. “To shut us down is to pretend nothing is wrong,” he added.
The adjournment was moved by nominated member Hon. Kebba Lang Fofana, who defended the decision as procedural rather than political.
He maintained that lawmakers still have other platforms to raise issues of concern. But the opposition is unconvinced, accusing the majority of using its numbers to shield the government from scrutiny.
This marks the second time in the current session that the Assembly has adjourned without debate—a pattern the opposition says undermines the legislature’s very purpose.
Critics argue that refusing to confront issues such as extrajudicial killings, missing investigation reports, and alleged corruption in food aid distribution amounts to a betrayal of the Gambian people.
As tensions mount, observers warn that silence in the Assembly will not prevent anger from spilling into the streets. For now, one question lingers: if lawmakers cannot debate the crises gripping the nation, who will?
