The Coalition of Progressive Gambians (CoPG) is a well-known advocacy group in the Gambia that works to promote the rule of law and strong democratic institutions. An additional presentation of the draft constitution for the year 2020 to the National Assembly is something that the CoPG has been campaigning for. The CoPG is still not convinced, despite the fact that President Adama Barrow stated at his State of the Nation address that a referendum will take place in the month of December. On August 22, 2024, the CoPG submitted an application to the office of the Inspector General of Police, Seedy Touray, in order to obtain a police permission in order to stage a protest on November 7, 2024. However, they have not yet received a response from the office of the IGP.
As indicated by their frequent meetings with the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) and their meeting with Pa Alieu Jawara at the Interpol office in Banjul, CoPG is of the opinion that the police are using delay tactics such as waiting until the day before to decide whether or not to grant them a permission. Speaking to AG Radio & Askani Gambia newspaper, the group was adamant in their intention to carry out the peaceful and nonviolent protest that was planned to take place on Thursday, November 7, regardless of whether or not a permission from the police was received during the course of the protest.
