Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – In a strongly-worded press conference on Monday, Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), issued a stern warning to President Adama Barrow and the security forces, urging them to avoid the pitfalls of the previous regime by ensuring free political discourse and not weaponizing state institutions.

“This country belongs to all of us, and you cannot keep intimidating us,” Darboe asserted. “What we expect of you, Mr. President, is that you will create an environment that allows for free political discourse.”

Darboe highlighted the misuse of the judiciary and police during Yahya Jammeh’s regime, expressing hope that the current judiciary, under Chief Justice Hassan Jallow, would maintain its independence.

Darboe goes hard after the police

The UDP leader voiced concerns about the police, cautioning them against being used as instruments of political repression. According to Darboe, the police appear more inclined to be weaponized compared to the judiciary, which seems more prepared to uphold independence.

“I cannot say so for the police, but whatever you do to weaponize any institution, we will stand up against those institutions,” Darboe declared. He reminded senior police officials of their own experiences under Jammeh, when many were forced into exile due to oppressive conditions.

“You went into exile because the conditions in this country forced you to go into exile because the police were being weaponized,” he said. “Some of you who are today in responsible positions with the police suffered because of the weaponization of the police.”

Darboe warned that the UDP is documenting the current government’s actions and is prepared to inform international governments, including the United States and the United Kingdom, about any undemocratic activities.

“We have connections in all other democratic countries of Europe,” he noted. “We are cataloging all that you are doing here. You are putting your families in jeopardy by behaving, by really helping, on an undemocratic ground, by helping the government do things that are out of order.”

He emphasized the potential repercussions for those in the security forces whose families reside abroad, suggesting that their actions could lead to their families being sent back to The Gambia.

“Unless you stop what you are doing, all that is being cataloged and sent to the government of the United States of America and to the government of the United Kingdom, to our connections,” Darboe stated. “By allowing yourselves to be used as weapons, you are exposing your families in those countries to being really denied what they are using. You are putting them in jeopardy because they can be sent back.”

Darboe’s message was clear: the UDP will not tolerate the use of state institutions for political repression, and those complicit in such actions will face international scrutiny and potential personal consequences.