The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice expresses grave concern over the state of Security Sector Reforms (SSR) in The Gambia, highlighting a troubling lack of progress despite over D7.2 billion invested between 2017 and 2025 by the government and international partners.
The SSR process was envisioned as a transformative initiative to build a professional, accountable, and rights-based security sector following decades of authoritarianism and abuse. However, today, key legal and institutional reforms remain incomplete, leaving the sector ill-equipped to deliver security and justice in a democratic society.
Even more alarming is the continuing pattern of police brutality and human rights violations, with facing unlawful arrests, excessive use of force, and impunity. This not only undermines public trust but also raises questions about how SSR funds have been used and whether the reform process is achieving its intended purpose.
EFSCRJ believes that the Gambian people deserve accountability and results. The current situation calls for urgent action in the following areas:
- Full transparency on resource use â The government must publicly disclose how the D7.2 billion allocated to SSR was spent, with detailed reporting on programs, outcomes, and beneficiaries.
- Completion of legal and institutional reforms â Outdated laws, policies, and structures must be overhauled to reflect democratic values and embed human rights protections in the security framework.
- Performance and delivery benchmarks â Clear goals and indicators must be set, with regular public reporting to track progress and outcomes.
- Combating police brutality and impunity â Immediate measures must be taken to hold perpetrators accountable, strengthen oversight mechanisms, and train officers on democratic policing and human rights.
âReform is not about meetings, reports, or rhetoric. It is about delivering real change that people can see and feel in their daily lives,â said the Executive Director EFSCRJ, Madi Jobarteh.
The continued mismatch between financial investment and tangible progress risks turning the SSR process into a costly failure, eroding public confidence and undermining peace and stability.
EFSCRJ calls on the government, the National Assembly, oversight bodies, and international partners to publicly share progress reports, performance data, and resource audits. This transparency is crucial for fostering public confidence and sustainable peace. The Gambian people have waited long enough. Accountability must be the foundation of reform for the resources spent, for the performance of institutions, and for the delivery of justice and security.
2025 â The Year of Transparency and Accountability
