By Rilwana Ahmed Sinayoko
The nationwide Community Awareness Campaign on Security Sector Reform (SSR) officially commenced on Tuesday, 5 May 2026, in Kerewan, North Bank Region, marking a significant step toward strengthening public awareness, inclusive participation, and trust between communities and security institutions in The Gambia.
The initiative, led by the Office of National Security (ONS) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and civil society actors, forms part of a broader effort to bring the SSR agenda closer to citizens at both national and grassroots levels.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor of the North Bank Region, Lamin Saidy welcomed participants and commended the ONS for its continued engagement with communities on security sector reform. He noted that since 2017, under the leadership of President Adama Barrow, The Gambia has made “great progress” in advancing security sector reforms.
Describing SSR as “a learning process,” he urged community leaders including alkalos, imams, and other stakeholders to cascade the knowledge gained to those unable to attend, in order to widen public understanding of the reform agenda.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the UNDP Resident Representative, Project Manager Thomas Kimaru described the outreach as “a key milestone in advancing inclusive, accountable, and people-centred security governance.”
He stressed that security sector reform is not solely about institutions, but about people. Citizens, he said, must understand their rights and responsibilities in order to meaningfully participate in shaping a responsive security system.
Kimaru further noted that the initiative aligns with key project activities, including Activity 1.1.4, which focuses on expanding public awareness of SSR frameworks, and Activity 2.4.4, aimed at strengthening the capacity of community-based structures to facilitate dialogue and engagement. According to him, the campaign will help translate complex reform processes into “accessible and actionable information,” while strengthening trust and promoting inclusion, particularly among women, youth, and marginalised groups.
On behalf of the National Security Adviser, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Abdoulie Sawo acknowledged the progress made in The Gambia’s democratic transition and security sector reform process, guided by key frameworks including the National Security Policy (2019), National Security Strategy (2020), SSR Strategy (2020), and the National Security Council Act (2025).
However, he noted that challenges remain, particularly in public awareness and community participation. The outreach campaign, he said, seeks to address these gaps by enhancing understanding, strengthening community capacity, and improving civil–security relations.
“Sustainable security can only be achieved through partnership between the state and its citizens,” he stated, underscoring the importance of trust and collaboration.
The outreach campaign is expected to deliver key outcomes, including increased public understanding of SSR, strengthened participation of community-based structures, and improved trust and dialogue between citizens and security institutions.
By integrating community feedback into policy processes, the initiative aims to ensure that security sector reform remains inclusive, responsive, and people-centred.
The campaign will continue across all regions of the country, reinforcing the principle that effective security is a shared responsibility between the state and its citizens.
