The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has issued a strongly worded rejection of the proposed Communications (New Media) Bill, cautioning that the legislation risks undermining democratic freedoms and electoral integrity ahead of the country’s pivotal December 2026 presidential election.
In a press statement dated March 22, 2026, signed by Secretary General and Party Leader Ousman Madikay Faal, the PPP described the bill—currently under consideration by the National Assembly—as a potential vehicle for repression disguised as modernization. While acknowledging the need for updated regulations to govern the digital space, including cybersecurity, data protection, and support for the digital economy, the party insisted that progress cannot come at the cost of free expression.
“The Gambia needs a modern legal framework to regulate its rapidly growing digital and communications space,” the statement read. “Provisions that promote innovation, support the digital economy, enhance cybersecurity, and protect personal data are necessary and long overdue.” However, the PPP expressed deep concern over provisions that could introduce licensing or registration requirements for journalists, expand government control over media operations, restrict citizens’ online expression, or grant excessive powers to the executive without sufficient oversight.
The timing of the bill has heightened suspicions. With presidential elections scheduled for December 5, 2026, and incumbent President Adama Barrow seeking a third term amid debates over democratic backsliding, the PPP argued that introducing expansive regulatory controls in an election year could chill public discourse and skew the democratic process. “Robust, uninhibited public discourse is most essential” during elections, the party emphasized, warning that restrictions would undermine transparency, diverse viewpoints, and public confidence in the electoral process.
The PPP highlighted the hard-won democratic gains since the end of Yahya Jammeh’s authoritarian rule, stressing that freedom of expression is a constitutional right, not a government concession. A free and independent media, it said, serves as the backbone of accountability by exposing corruption and amplifying marginalized voices. Any law weakening this foundation, the party warned, would erode democracy itself.
Particularly troubling to the PPP are elements that could transform media practice into a “permission-based activity” or subject free expression to political control. The party called for the Media Council of The Gambia to remain the sole recognized self-regulatory body for media institutions, rejecting any government-controlled alternative as an assault on institutional integrity and press freedom.
Rather than outright obstruction, the PPP advocated constructive engagement. It demanded urgent amendments to align the bill with democratic values, including: Strengthening the Media Council as the primary regulatory authority; Establishing an independent, non-partisan framework free from executive interference; Guaranteeing press freedom without licensing requirements for journalists; Ensuring clear, narrow legal definitions to prevent misuse; Providing judicial oversight for surveillance or data access provisions; andRobust protections for digital rights, privacy, and online expression.
The statement framed the bill’s implications in human terms, affecting journalists probing corruption, young entrepreneurs, market women sharing views on social media, students debating national issues, and citizens demanding accountability. “Their voices must not be silenced,” it declared.
The PPP urged the National Assembly, civil society, media practitioners, and stakeholders to ensure the law expands freedom rather than restricts it. “Strong institutions, not strong men, must govern The Gambia,” Faal concluded, reaffirming the party’s commitment to democracy, transparency, and fundamental rights.
The Communications Bill 2025, presented earlier this month by the Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, aims to modernize the 2009 Communications Act by addressing electronic communications, broadcasting, media services, and e-commerce. It has sparked debate in parliament over balancing security, privacy, and innovation, with some lawmakers supporting its data protection goals while others raise concerns about potential overreach.
