The National Assembly Minority Caucus has strongly condemned President Adama Barrow’s threatening remarks directed at the Honorable Member for Banjul North, linking the lawmaker to a candlelight protest in the capital about a month ago.
The Caucus said the protest, which reportedly ended in a march to State House, represented citizens exercising their fundamental rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. It described the President’s characterization of the demonstration as an act of treason, along with his warning of severe consequences if the protesters repeated such action, as deeply troubling.
The Caucus noted that Barrow’s reported comment was particularly concerning: had the protest occurred during former President Yahya Jammeh’s era, he would have dealt with the protesters brutally. The group said such language is unbecoming of the highest office in the land.
In a statement issued by the Minority Caucus of the National Assembly of The Gambia, led by Minority Leader and UDP lawmaker Alagie Darboe, members reminded the President that the country is a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law, not by threats, intimidation or fear. They stressed that the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic freedom and must not be treated as treason simply because citizens express grievances or challenge those in authority.
The Caucus declared its firm solidarity with the Honorable Member for Banjul North. It condemned any attempt to intimidate, threaten, or silence him for exercising, or supporting the exercise of, constitutionally protected democratic freedoms. It further reminded the President that his office carries a solemn responsibility to protect the rights of all Gambians, including those who criticize his government. The statement said presidential authority must be exercised with restraint, responsibility, and respect for democratic principles, and must never be used to threaten citizens or elected representatives for participating in peaceful civic action.
The Minority Caucus called on President Barrow to clarify his remarks, refrain from statements that could be interpreted as threats against citizens and elected representatives, and reaffirm his government’s commitment to protecting fundamental rights and freedoms.
As elected representatives of the people, the Caucus said it would not remain silent in the face of threats that undermine parliamentary independence, democratic participation and the constitutional rights of Gambians. It reaffirmed its commitment to defending the Constitution, upholding the rule of law, protecting citizens’ rights, and holding those in power accountable, adding that the rights of the Gambian people must be respected and democratic freedoms protected at all times.
