Date: 22nd March, 2026
PRESS RELEASE
PPP RAISES ALARM OVER MEDIA BILL IN ELECTION YEAR
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has taken careful note of the proposed Communications (New Media) Bill currently under consideration. We recognize that this moment is not merely about legislation; it is about the future character of our democracy, the strength of our institutions, and the fundamental freedoms of the Gambian people.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), as a party founded on multiparty democracy and as a voice for human and people’s rights, has consistently championed the rule of law as one of its core values, both at home and abroad, since The Gambia’s independence. It is on these very principles that our nation was built. Therefore, any bill that undermines these democratic foundations stands in direct contradiction to the values that have guided The Gambia since independence and must be firmly rejected.
Let us be clear from the outset: PPP supports progress, but will never support repression. There is no doubt that The Gambia needs a modern legal framework to regulate its rapidly growing digital and communications space. Provisions that promote innovation, support the digital economy, enhance cybersecurity, and protect personal data are necessary and long overdue. On these fronts, we acknowledge the intent to move the country forward. However, progress must never come at the expense of freedom.
We are also deeply troubled that the government is seeking to pass such expansive regulatory controls over media and online expression in an election year. Introducing legislation that could potentially chill public discussion, limit free expression, and deter journalists and citizens from engaging in open political debate risks skewing the democratic process at a time when robust, uninhibited public discourse is most essential. Democratic elections thrive on transparency, diverse viewpoints, and a free flow of information; any attempt to restrict these undermines electoral integrity and public confidence.
Despite its stated intentions, this bill contains provisions and opens pathways that risk undermining the very democratic gains the Gambian people fought hard to secure. We are deeply concerned by any explicit or implicit elements that could introduce licensing or registration requirements for journalists, expand government control over media operations, regulate or restrict citizens’ expression on digital platforms, or concentrate excessive powers in the hands of the executive without adequate oversight. Such measures, if allowed to stand, would create a chilling effect across society. Journalists may begin to self-censor. Citizens may hesitate before speaking. Young people, the most active participants in the digital space, may find their voices restricted. That is not the democracy Gambians struggled for.
Freedom of expression is not a favor granted by any government. It is a constitutional right belonging to every Gambian. A free and independent media is the backbone of accountability. It exposes corruption, amplifies the voices of the marginalized, and ensures that power remains answerable to the people. Any law that weakens this foundation weakens democracy itself.
PPP therefore rejects, in the strongest possible terms, any attempt to turn media practice into a permission-based activity or to subject free expression to political control.
As a matter of principle and policy, the PPP stands firmly for strong institutions—not strong men. The future of The Gambia must not depend on the goodwill of individuals in power, but on independent, transparent, and accountable institutions that serve the people without fear or favor.
The Media Council of The Gambia must remain the only recognized institution responsible for regulating media institutions, in line with its current mandate. This body represents a model of self-regulation that protects both professionalism and independence. Bypassing, weakening, or replacing it with a government-controlled mechanism would be a direct assault on institutional integrity and a step backward for press freedom in our country.
PPP does not believe in obstruction for its own sake. We believe in constructive leadership. Therefore, we call for urgent and meaningful amendments to ensure that this bill reflects democratic values and protects the rights of all Gambians.
We demand the preservation and strengthening of the Media Council of The Gambia as the primary regulatory authority for media institutions; the establishment of a truly independent and non-partisan regulatory framework, free from executive interference; explicit guarantees of press freedom, with no licensing or registration requirements for journalists; clear, precise, and narrow legal definitions to prevent misuse and political targeting; judicial oversight and accountability mechanisms for any surveillance or data access provisions; and robust protections for citizens’ digital rights, privacy, and online expression.
This bill is not an abstract legal document; it has real consequences for real people. It affects the journalist investigating corruption, the young entrepreneur building an online business, the market woman sharing her views on social media, the student engaging in national debate, and the ordinary citizen demanding accountability. Their voices must not be silenced. Their rights must not be compromised.
We call on the National Assembly, civil society, media practitioners, and all stakeholders to rise to the responsibility of this moment. Let this law expand freedom, not restrict it. Let it empower citizens, not control them. Let it strengthen institutions, not individuals.
The PPP stands unwavering in its commitment to democracy, transparency, and the protection of fundamental rights. Stronginstitutions, not strong men, must govern the Gambia. We will stand with the Gambian people—today and always—in defense of their right to speak, to question, and to be heard.
Ousman Madikay Faal
Secretary General and Party Leader
People’s Progressive Party (PPP)
