By Buba Gagigo
In a Tuesday session marked by fiery debate, Gambia’s National Assembly rejected a proposed amendment to the Public Order Act. The bill, introduced by Hon. Sulayman Saho, aimed to streamline the process for holding public processions by replacing the current permit requirement with a simple notification to the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Eighteen lawmakers voted in favour of sending the bill to the second reading stage, while 25 voted against it, with one abstention. This outcome effectively kills the legislation for now.
The proposed Public Order Amendment Bill, 2023, sought to harmonize Section 5 of the Act with international human rights standards, particularly those outlined by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. The key change it envisioned was scrapping the mandatory permit for public gatherings and replacing it with a notification requirement. This shift aimed to safeguard the constitutional right to peaceful assembly while also establishing appropriate checks and balances.