Nyassi: peace maintenance should be collective responsibility for Gambians

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By SULAYMAN WAAN

Pansaw Nyassi, head of Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) in The Gambia has said that maintaining the country’s peace and stability is a collective responsibility for all Gambians.

Mr. Nyassi was recently speaking at the National Security Sector Reform (NSSR) public consultation held at Brikama in the West Coast Region.

He added that there is need for Gambians to discuss about how to sustain the country’s peace.

Following the changed of regime in 2017, The Gambia Government established a National Security Sector Reform aims at reforming the entire country’s security sector to ensure professionalism.

Since this reform process commenced the NSSR had organized series of training to security personnel but now embarked on public consultation to enlighten the masses on the country’s security reform process.

“The people working in the security institutions includes: Immigration, Police, Military, Security Intelligent Service among others are all Gambians. We don’t expect foreign nationals to secure the country for us, instead the Gambians are the ones who will secure and develop their country,” Nyassi said.

The DCAF leader in The Gambia further said in order to maintain peace in the country, the public have to tell the truth to one another and end the grievance and then work towards developing the country.

“This is democracy, lets tell the truth to one another but we should also know democracy goes with law,” he noted.

Speaking further, he said the NSSR and DCAF office had consulted various security institutions across the country as well as students at University of The Gambia in order to get their views on the security reform process.

He added that now the closed partners deem it necessary to consult the entire public on the reform process to ensure they get their opinions and raise doubts regarding the reform process.

Momodou Jonga, chief executive officer of the Brikama Area Council (BAC) in the West Coast Region (WCR) said the security sector reform is significant in ensuring effective accountable security sector in the country.

“We are in a new dispensation, so this reform process will ensure respect for human rights, rule of law and fundamental principles of good government,” he said, ading

According to him, the overall of the reform process is important and we are hopeful to get a vibrant economy, democratic growth and inclusive development.

The top BAC administrative official said the reform process is important to the WCR which means is the largest and most populated region in the Gambia.

“This region has witnessed security threat in the past two years which includes political, land dispute, natural resources and religious issues,” he said.

He noted that security reform process needs effective and efficient participation of all stakeholders to ensure successful security sector reform.

Mr. Jonga called on all the people of his region to provide vital information for the concern authorities for successful implementation of the change.

Adama Sanyang, a participant at the consultation meting called on the security officials to provide all the necessary equipment for security personnel to enable them to execute their functions as expected.