Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Vice Chairman of The Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Mr. Cherno M. Jallow, has cautioned political parties that hate speech erodes social trust, weakens national cohesion, and undermines the credibility of state institutions, particularly the electoral body.
Speaking at the National Conference on Hate Speech organized by the Inter-Party Committee (IPC) with support from UNESCO Dakar under the I4P project, Mr. Jallow stressed that discrediting the IEC ultimately damages the integrity of the electoral process itself.
“Hate speech cannot only erode social trust but also undermine the credibility of national institutions such as the IEC. And when you talk about hate speech, you are also inferring, to a certain extent, the practice of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation,” he said.
The IEC Vice Chair commended the conference as both timely and relevant, saying it aligns with the Commission’s vision of fostering inclusive, participatory, transparent, and peaceful elections. However, he warned that the IEC cannot achieve these goals in isolation.
“Looking at the theme of today’s meeting—hate speech and inclusive politics—hate speech cannot foster inclusivity. That should be clear from the onset,” he noted.
Mr. Jallow emphasized that combating hate speech is a collective national responsibility that transcends political affiliations. He lamented that the IEC has at times been unfairly targeted, warning that such attacks have wider consequences.
“What people don’t understand is that if you discredit the institution that serves as the umpire for credible elections, you are already undermining the credibility of the electoral process,” he cautioned.
He urged all political actors to prioritize the fight against hate speech, not only through the IPC but also within their individual party structures. He called on parties to actively sensitize their supporters to the dangers of divisive rhetoric.
Mr. Jallow warned that hate speech not only discredits institutions but also threatens national cohesion and peace.
“When you talk about sapping national and social cohesion, you are indirectly talking about violence. Violence is not helpful for peaceful, credible, inclusive elections,” he said, adding that political actors across the divide have been complicit in propagating hate speech.
The IEC vice chair pointed out that the problem extends beyond politicians to opinion leaders, further highlighting the need for a unified national response.
He said while The Gambia has legal frameworks to address hate speech, genuine progress requires strong political will and commitment from all stakeholders.
“We only have one country. As political actors, you are not enemies—you are adversaries. You are all working toward the same objective: the betterment of this country, though based on different agendas. You should prioritize constructive, inclusive dialogue to resolve your differences,” he advised.
Reassuring the political parties of the commission’s openness and readiness for collaboration, Mr. Jallow said:
“You are important stakeholders. We cannot succeed without you. Either we succeed with you, or we fail together.”
He concluded by reaffirming the IEC’s open-door policy and commitment to proactive communication to counter misinformation.
“We are always available. We are going to be very proactive in our communication so that we do not give space to speculation or any presumption whatsoever. When communication is weak, that’s where fake news, disinformation, and misinformation thrive,” he said.
