“Some of the laws are quite draconian. They shouldn’t exist in a democracy whatsoever,” Jawo said, insisting that journalists, as those directly affected, are best placed to judge the impact of such legislation. He rejected the idea of government regulation of the media, recalling past attempts under both former presidents Jawara and Jammeh to impose external control; efforts that faced stiff resistance and were eventually repealed.
Speaking on West Coast Radio’s Coffee Time programme with Peter Gomez, Jawo reflected on his time in government, media freedom, and his current role in the APEX initiative, a platform seeking to unite opposition parties ahead of the next elections.
Jawo, who served as Minister for Information in President Barrow’s first cabinet after his appointment in 2017, revealed that he had set up a committee specifically to identify what he openly described as “draconian media laws,” with the aim of repealing or amending them.
Turning to politics, Jawo gave a detailed account of the APEX initiative, which began discussions in early 2023 to bring opposition parties together. He said APEX initially contacted established parties such as UDP, GDC, APP-Sobeyaa, NUP, GFA, PAP and PDOIS, later reaching out to new political formations as they emerged.
According to him, seven parties have already signed onto the initiative, while negotiations continue with others, including the GDC and PDOIS. He said the reluctance of some parties, particularly the GDC, did not surprise him, arguing that their decision to stay out of the 2016 coalition was a blessing in disguise.
“If they had joined, Yahya Jammeh would have still been here, claiming votes that went to GDC leader Mama Kandeh would otherwise have gone to Jammeh,” he asserted.
Jawo acknowledged that personality clashes, mistrust and differing expectations remain major obstacles to opposition unity. However, he dismissed ideology as a serious dividing factor, noting that most parties share similar political outlooks. He stressed that any successful coalition must be built through inclusive dialogue, not dictates by any single party.
“There is always power and strength in unity,” he stressed, adding that fragmented opposition parties would struggle against President Barrow’s grand coalition and access to state resources.
On APEX’s credibility, Jawo maintained that the group is strictly neutral, made up of volunteers with no party affiliation. Its role, he said, is not to impose solutions but to create a platform for dialogue.
“We are impartial brokers, not political players,” he said, echoing the message earlier delivered by APEX chairperson Dr Jay Sisek Krubally, who called on Gambians to unite around a credible alternative for meaningful change.
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