Convened under the critical contemporary theme, “regulating without hindering innovation: The regulation of innovative technologies: challenges, issues and perspectives of protection Authorities in Africa”, the general assembly voted unanimously to welcome The Gambia into the continental body with full voting rights and privileges.
The Gambian delegation was led by the Chairperson of the Information Commission, Madam Neneh Macdouall Gaye, alongside Commissioner Babucarr Cham and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Madam Codou Jabang. Their participation signals The Gambia’s active commitment to building a robust legal and regulatory framework aligned with international data security standards.
This admission bridges The Gambia directly into an elite ecosystem of African regulatory bodies dedicated to sharing best practices, harmonizing data laws, and defending digital privacy as a fundamental human right.
Reflecting on the strategic importance of this milestone, Chairperson Madam Neneh Macdouall Gaye stated: Securing full-time membership within NADPA-RAPDP is a transformative leap forward for The Gambia. As we build our digital economy, our permanent seat within this continental network ensures that we have a direct hand in shaping regional policy. It gives The Gambia full access to a wealth of institutional knowledge, cross-border cooperation, and standardizations that will rapidly elevate our national framework for data privacy and freedom of information.
Madam MacDouall Gaye further emphasized how continental collaboration will shape localized innovation and civil protection: Data protection is not a barrier to growth, it is the very foundation of safe, sustainable digital innovation. By aligning ourselves as peers alongside other established African authorities, the Information Commission will be better equipped to safeguard the personal data of everyday Gambian citizens while simultaneously fostering an environment of trust that attracts international tech investments.
The 2026 Abidjan Conference brought together personal data protection authorities, policymakers, and cybersecurity legal experts from across the continent. By participating in this high-level forum as a full voting member, The Gambia positions itself to effectively confront modern technological challenges, including data ethics, artificial intelligence, and cybercrime mitigation.
Moving forward as an official full-time member, Chairperson MacDouall-Gaye said, “We remain committed to working closely with our counterparts across the continent to advance a culture of responsible data processing and accountability”.
