ActionAid International The Gambia has urged political leaders, parties, young people, religious and traditional authorities, the media, and ordinary voters to reject hate speech, tribal incitement, and misinformation as the country approaches its presidential election on 5 December 2026.
In a statement issued as campaigning intensifies, the organization said elections allow citizens to choose leaders and shape national direction, but political competition must not come at the expense of dignity, unity or the relationships that hold communities together. It warned that a careless remark, inflammatory speech or divisive social-media post can quickly raise tensions, while the same platforms can also promote understanding and constructive dialogue.
The Gambia, often described as the Smiling Coast of Africa for the hospitality and peaceful disposition of its people, has a reputation the organization said it should protect. Political differences, it argued, are a normal feature of democracy: citizens may back different candidates, parties or ideas, yet remain one people sharing the same country and hopes for its future. Those differences should fuel debate and learning rather than hostility.
ActionAid placed particular responsibility on leaders from both the incumbent camp and the opposition. They should set the tone, promote respectful engagement and publicly condemn hate speech or tribal incitement that emerges from their supporters. Young people active online were urged to share credible information and discuss policies and development programs rather than insults, threats or unverified claims. Before forwarding a message, the statement suggested, users should ask whether it brings Gambians together or pushes them further apart.
The organization said it remains committed, as part of civil society, to civic engagement, community dialogues, youth participation, women’s empowerment and efforts that strengthen social cohesion. It stressed, however, that the duty does not rest with institutions alone. Religious and traditional leaders, journalists, influencers, political actors and citizens all help shape the electoral climate. It also called on the Independent Electoral Commission to ensure fair treatment of all parties in line with the country’s electoral law.
The appeal closed with a reminder that the spirit of “One Gambia, One People” should endure through the cycle. Voters can disagree over policies and programs without becoming enemies, debate without dehumanizing one another, and campaign without losing sight of what binds the country. Elections, the statement said, should strengthen the country’s young democracy rather than weaken personal and communal ties. “Elections and political leaders come and go. The Gambia remains.”
The warning arrives amid broader concern about the tone of public discourse. Pre-election assessments and local reporting have noted rising ethnic rhetoric and online falsehoods as risks to peaceful participation, while civil-society voices have pressed for accountability when political figures use inflammatory language.
