By Alieu Ceesay
Thirteen civil society organizations in The Gambia have issued a scathing rebuke of the government’s forcible removal of the Auditor General from the National Audit Office (NAO). In a marathon press conference held at the National Youth Parliament in Westfield, the coalition described the move as a “blatant violation” of the Constitution and the NAO Act, labeling it a direct assault on democracy, the rule of law, and the sovereignty of the Gambian people.
Lamin Dibba, a spokesperson for the coalition, condemned the government’s actions, stating, “The President has unlawfully and forcefully removed the Auditor General, the head of one of The Gambia’s most vital independent accountability institutions.” The coalition highlighted that the removal of Auditor General Ceesay was executed with a heavy police presence, accusing the government of weaponizing law enforcement to intimidate citizens exercising their constitutional rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.
“This is not a mistake. This is a deliberate and calculated assault on accountability, transparency, and democratic governance,” Dibba declared. The coalition emphasized that the 1997 Constitution and the 2015 NAO Act clearly outline conditions for removing the Auditor General, including a fixed nine-year tenure, voluntary resignation, or reaching mandatory retirement age—none of which were met in Ceesay’s case.
The civil society groups warned that allowing such an “illegal act” to stand threatens other independent institutions, including the Ombudsman, the Independent Electoral Commission, the Chief Justice, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Speaker of the National Assembly. “When independent oversight bodies are undermined, corruption flourishes, and human rights protections erode,” Dibba cautioned.
The coalition issued three demands: the immediate reinstatement of the Auditor General, adherence to lawful processes for any removal, and an end to police intimidation and harassment of citizens. “The Gambia Police Force must cease all unlawful actions against the Auditor General and any citizen exercising their constitutional rights,” they stated, emphasizing that the police’s role is to protect the Republic, not enforce illegal executive orders.
Invoking the memory of fallen heroes like the April 10/11 students, Deyda Hydara, and Solo Sandeng, the coalition vowed to continue their fight. “We will not relent. We will not allow their sacrifices to be in vain,” Dibba concluded, reaffirming their commitment to defending democracy and the rule of law in The Gambia.
