Reforming national police structures in The Gambia

Context

Since Adama Barrow became president of The Gambia in 2017, the country has taken its first steps to become more open and democratic. However, the population still has little trust in state institutions. This is also true of their trust in police in the Gambia, who are virtually unable to prevent threats and criminal offences such as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

Poor working conditions and inadequate police stations impair the quality of police work. In addition, the police do not have the necessary structures to protect the population from threats.

Objective

Police in the Gambia tackle violence and crime effectively and using the rule of law. They contribute to preventing and punishing SGBV and are improving their relationship with the population.

Approach

The programme has been supporting police reforms in Africa since 2009. It has been working with police in the Gambia since 2019, focusing primarily on preventing SGBV and protecting victims. This includes organising awareness-raising campaigns throughout the country and training courses for police officers, for example.

The programme also supports police in The Gambia in implementing their reform plan. In line with this, law enforcement is to be improved, gender equality expanded, children protected, citizen-centred police structures established, and communication between the authorities improved.

Additional funding from the European Union (EU) is also being used to align police stations and equipment with international standards.

Last update: May 2024