By Awa K. Sanneh
National Assembly members have ratified an agreement between The Gambia and Geneva Centre for security sector governance for the establishment of DCAF field office in The Gambia.
Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, told lawmakers that DCAF is a leading center of excellence in justice and security through the strengthening of democratic governance, rule of law and respect for human rights.
“By ratifying the agreement between Gambia and DCAF, the country commits to DCAF’s program in The Gambia which will contribute to meaningful security sector reform and greater accountability leading to improve peace and security for Gambian population,” he said.
“The implementation of the project which seeks to support the security sector reform process in The Gambia is organized along two main lines of intervention interlinked through an inclusive vision of security sector governance or reform,” he added.
Following the election of President Adama Barrow, in 2016, he said the newly elected government launched a series of inclusive reform as part of the government’s wider forum agenda to uphold the highest standards of democracy and good governance.
He said that DCAF’s work in The Gambia aims to support global architecture of the SSR process led by The Gambia to enhance synergies between international stakeholders and national services.
“It will also support the legal reform process aimed at developing laws and policies governing the security sector that are fully compliant with human rights principle,” Honorable Tangara said.
He added that it will also promote and strengthen the democratic participation of the security sector by the parliament.
More so, the project will further build bridges between civilian oversight actors and security institution by fostering the exchange of information.