Gambia Sees Improved Governance, but Corruption and Organized Crime Remain Concerns

A New Era in Governance: Progress Made, But Challenges Persist

In the aftermath of a change in leadership, The Gambia has made significant strides in governance and transparency. However, corruption and organized crime remain persistent problems that require sustained attention.

Tackling Corruption

While the country’s new administration has taken steps to improve policy-making environments and strengthen institutions, critics argue that more needs to be done to tackle entrenched corruption. The lack of accountability for past abuses has been a major concern, with many calling for justice for those who have been implicated in wrongdoing.

Organized Crime: A Persistent Threat

Despite progress made in addressing organized crime, there is no evidence of proactive measures to counter the rise of organized criminal activities, and concerns remain about the government’s commitment to tackling corrupt practices.

International Cooperation and Capacity Building

On the international stage, The Gambia has ratified key treaties related to organized crime, but collaboration with international agencies to build capacity against organized crime remains limited. A memorandum of understanding on anti-drug cooperation with Senegal is a positive step, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of corruption and organized crime.

Domestic Efforts: Laws and Judicial Reform

Domestically, The Gambia has a range of laws related to organized crimes, including those that deem certain activities “serious offences” or criminalize organized crime groups. However, the country lacks judicial units specifically designed to combat organized crime, and there is a need for greater coordination between law enforcement agencies.

Judicial Reform: A Work in Progress

The Gambia’s judiciary has made efforts to professionalize and recruit more Gambian judges, but corruption within the system remains a concern. The government has also taken steps to reduce arbitrary detention and arrest practices, but more work is needed to build trust in the legal system.

Border Control: A Challenging Task

The Gambia’s small size and shorter land and sea boundaries make it easier to manage its borders. However, there are ongoing efforts to build a national border control system with international partners.

Economic Regulatory Environment: Room for Improvement

The Gambia’s economic regulatory environment is also in need of improvement, but the new government has shown a commitment to deepening democratic governance and strengthening anti-corruption measures. Efforts to tackle money laundering and financial crime are underway, including the establishment of a financial intelligence unit and cooperation with the Financial Action Task Force.

Conclusion: A Long Way to Go

While progress has been made in certain areas, there is still much work to be done to strengthen enforcement capacity and address the root causes of corruption and organized crime. The Gambia’s civil society and social protection systems also require further development, particularly in terms of victim and witness protection programs.

Press Freedom: A Concern

The country’s press freedom record remains a concern, with laws used to intimidate and silence journalists being repealed or amended but not yet completely overcome. Despite these challenges, there is a sense of optimism that the new government will continue to make progress on these fronts.