Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia Press Union (GPU) and the Gambia Police Force have engaged 70 police officers and journalists on election safety as concerns over harassment and attacks on media practitioners persist ahead of the 2026–2027 electoral cycle.
The engagement brought together 40 police officers and 30 journalists, including reporters, editors, media managers and representatives of journalists’ associations, to discuss media freedom, police responsibilities and measures to protect journalists covering political activities.
Participants examined how journalists and security officers can work together to ensure media practitioners can report from political rallies, polling stations and counting centres without fear, intimidation or unlawful interference.
The engagement forms part of the GPU’s 12-month project, Enhancing Physical and Digital Safety of Journalists in The Gambia, launched in January 2026 with support from IFEX, a global network that promotes and defends freedom of expression.
The initiative builds on the Union’s experience during the 2021 presidential election, when dialogue involving security forces and political parties contributed to a safer environment for journalists. No journalist was arrested or detained by police before, during or immediately after that election, although one photojournalist was assaulted by political party militants.
Police And Media Have Complementary Roles
Speaking at the engagement, Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Dr Ismaila Ceesay said the police and the media had complementary responsibilities in sustaining democracy.
“The role of the police is to protect our democracy and the role of the media is to promote our democracy,” he said.
Dr Ceesay said elections were periods of heightened emotions and political tension, making the work of journalists particularly important in informing citizens and enabling them to make decisions about the country’s future.
He stressed that a free, pluralistic and independent media was essential to democratic governance and that journalists should be able to perform their duties without threats or unlawful interference.
However, the minister said media freedom must be accompanied by accuracy, fairness, verification and adherence to professional ethics, arguing that press freedom and responsible journalism reinforced each other.
He also cited The Gambia’s reported improvement in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, where the country moved to 46th globally from 58th and ranked eighth in Africa.
Dr Ceesay attributed the progress to reforms, including the Access to Information Act, and urged political actors to respect journalists while calling on security agencies to ensure proportionate responses and clear arrangements for media access.
GPU Raises Concerns Over Attacks
GPU President Isatou Keita said the engagement was necessary because journalists would be deployed alongside police officers at rallies, polling stations and counting centres during the elections.
She said journalists continue to face verbal and physical abuse from political militants, political leaders and some security officers. She also raised concerns about inadequate training among journalists and unresolved cases involving attacks on media practitioners.
Keita said journalists also needed to understand police responsibilities and maintain professional standards while covering elections.
“To our colleagues, the police, a journalist with a camera or a notebook is not your opponent. They are doing a job that gives the public the information it needs to vote,” she said.
Police Pledge Professional Conduct
Representing the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner Famara Jobarteh said journalists’ safety was essential to ensuring that the public received the information needed to participate meaningfully in the electoral process.
He said police officers were expected to treat journalists professionally, communicate restrictions clearly and remain impartial while maintaining public order.
Jobarteh added that any restrictions imposed on journalists must be lawful, necessary and appropriate.
Both institutions said the effectiveness of the engagement would ultimately be measured by practical improvements in journalists’ safety and the conduct of security officers during the December 5 presidential election.
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