Speaking at the forum, GPU Secretary General Modou S. Joof underscored the importance of dialogue between the media and security forces. He noted that the initiative, launched in January 2026 with support from IFEX, aims to enhance both physical and digital safety of journalists while fostering trust between media practitioners, security agencies, and political actors.
“This engagement is part of a broader project to minimise attacks and abuse against journalists before, during, and after the elections,” Joof said. He recalled that similar efforts during the 2021 presidential elections resulted in zero attacks on journalists by security forces, though he lamented that more than 18 cases of assaults between 2017 and 2026 have gone unpunished.
Assistant Inspector General of Police Administration Ebrima Bah reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to open communication with the media.
“We believe dialogue is always preferable to misunderstanding, and cooperation is more productive than confrontation,” Bah stated. He urged all stakeholders security services, journalists, political parties, civil society, and citizens to reject disinformation and hate speech, and to uphold professionalism during the electoral period.
He stressed that the success of the elections would be measured not only by the outcome of the polls, but also by the conduct of institutions, the responsibility of the media, and the collective ability to preserve peace.
Director of Press and Public Relations of the Gambia Armed Forces, Col. Lamin K. Sanyang, described the engagement as “equally relevant” in nurturing democracy and sustaining past gains.
He praised the GPU and IFEX for their initiative, noting that similar dialogues in 2021 contributed to almost zero attacks on journalists during that election cycle. “These engagements enable both media practitioners and security forces to better understand each other’s roles,” Sanyang said, urging participants to share the knowledge with colleagues and extend such forums to other stakeholders.
The forum highlighted the shared responsibility of journalists and security forces in promoting free, fair, and peaceful elections. Both sides acknowledged the need for accountability in cases of violence against journalists and pledged to continue building trust and cooperation.
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