Gambia Police Force Graduates 100 Riot Control Officers Ahead of Presidential Elections as Guinea-Bissau Ambassador Joins Ceremony

The Gambia Police Force (GPF) on Friday graduated 100 officers in advanced public order management in a significant security preparedness exercise ahead of The Gambia’s presidential elections scheduled for December 2026.

The graduation ceremony, held at the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) headquarters in Kanifing Municipality, attracted top security officials, diplomats, and international partners, with the Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau to The Gambia, Luís Camara de Barros, leading the diplomatic presence as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

The attendance of Ambassador Barros added diplomatic weight to the event and reflected growing regional and international interest in The Gambia’s efforts to ensure peaceful, secure, and transparent elections later this year.

The specialized training programme, conducted over two weeks, was organized through a strategic partnership between the GPF and the Turkish Gendarmerie, with partial funding support from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) via the Turkish Embassy.

The course focused on advanced crowd control tactics, management of civil disturbances, conflict de-escalation techniques, and adherence to human rights standards during public security operations.

Speaking during the ceremony, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ebrima Bah reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to safeguarding peace and constitutional order throughout the electoral process.

He said the graduation of the officers demonstrates the institution’s readiness to respond professionally and effectively to potential security challenges during the election season.

Diplomatic representatives present at the ceremony praised The Gambia’s continued commitment to democratic stability and professional security sector development.

The graduation comes as political activities intensify across the country ahead of the presidential polls, with authorities placing increased emphasis on election security and public order management.

With the deployment of the newly trained PIU officers, the Gambian authorities say they are strengthening national preparedness to guarantee a peaceful democratic process and protect citizens’ rights during the December elections.