The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice raises grave concern over the growing incidence of lawlessness in the public sector, evidenced by the persistent disregard for laws, due process, and institutional decisions, as well as the slow or non-implementation of official reports and findings. This pattern undermines the rule of law, erodes public trust, and signals a dangerous normalization of impunity.
We note with deep concern that following the release of the Coroner’s inquest report into the death of Omar Badgie of Mandinari, the acquittal of Ousainou Bojang and Amie Bojang, and the tabling of the National Assembly Special Select Committee report on the disposal of former dictator Yaya Jammeh’s assets, the Government has remained largely silent. This inaction is unacceptable.
The family of Omar Badgie deserves justice and closure through the prompt prosecution of those responsible. In the case of the Bojang siblings, their acquittal affirms their innocence, yet no credible effort has been made to apprehend and prosecute the actual perpetrators of the police shootings. Equally troubling is the unlawful re-arrest of the siblings. The State should compensate Ousainou and Amie Bojang for their wrongful arrest, prolonged detention, and unjust prosecution, which deprived them of nearly three years of their lives and inflicted irreparable reputational harm.
Similarly, more than a month after the release of the National Assembly’s report on the disposal of Jammeh’s assets, the Government has failed to provide any formal response or implementation roadmap. This silence contradicts repeated assurances by the President to ensure full transparency and accountability following public inquiries. Such delays and omissions reinforce a pattern where investigations are conducted and reports produced, only for their recommendations to be ignored or indefinitely stalled.
These incidents are not isolated. They reflect a broader and troubling trend of unchecked misconduct, corruption, police brutality, abuse of office, and disregard for court rulings across the public sector. The selective application of the law and the apparent use of state institutions against citizens further compound these concerns. Left unaddressed, this trajectory poses serious risks to justice, human rights, peace, and national stability.
EFSCRJ therefore calls on the President and the National Assembly to urgently recognize and confront the increasing lawlessness within public institutions. Under the Constitution, particularly Sections 17, the State bears the primary obligation to respect, protect, and fulfil the rights of all persons and to safeguard life and liberty. The Executive and Legislature must ensure that all public officials and institutions operate strictly within the confines of the law, uphold judicial decisions, and are held accountable without fear or favor.
We issue this alarm as a matter of urgency. Those entrusted with constitutional authority must act decisively, professionally, and impartially to restore adherence to the rule of law, guarantee justice for victims, and protect the integrity of public institutions. Failure to do so will only entrench impunity and further weaken the democratic foundations of The Gambia.
2026: The Year of Empowerment – Empowered Citizens. Accountable Leadership.
