Thirteen civil society organisations have called for the protection of digital rights and warned against internet shutdowns, surveillance and other actions that could undermine transparency and citizen participation ahead of The Gambia’s 2026 elections.
The groups made the call in a joint communiqué issued during the Digital Rights and Elections in Africa Monitor (DREAM) engagement held in Banjul and organised by Paradigm Initiative in partnership with Give1Project Gambia.
The engagement introduced civil society actors, journalists and researchers to the DREAM Toolkit and examined key digital threats that could affect electoral processes.
The organisations identified internet shutdowns, data protection and biometrics, surveillance and arbitrary seizures, as well as information integrity and deepfakes, as major concerns requiring urgent attention ahead of the polls.
In the communiqué, the groups urged the Gambian government, the Independent Electoral Commission and telecommunications operators to maintain an open, secure and accessible internet throughout the electoral cycle.
They also called on stakeholders to uphold digital rights and inclusion, ensuring that citizens can freely access information and participate in democratic processes without interference.
Speaking at the event, Muhammed Bello Buhari, Programmes Officer at Paradigm Initiative, described internet shutdowns during elections as a threat to democracy and transparency.
“An internet shutdown during an election is not just a technical disruption; it is a direct assault on the democratic process and transparency,” he said.
Buhari said the communiqué reflected a unified position by civil society organisations in The Gambia against any form of digital authoritarianism during the 2026 elections.
According to him, the groups will closely monitor the digital environment throughout the electoral period and document any violations that may occur.
The communiqué noted that the call was guided by protections contained in Chapter IV of the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia, the Personal Data Protection and Privacy Act 2025, and Resolution 580 of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on Internet Shutdowns and Elections.
The organisations pledged to use the DREAM Toolkit methodology and the Ripoti platform to document, verify and expose any attempts to undermine the democratic process through digital means.
They reaffirmed their commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and the protection of digital rights as The Gambia prepares for the 2026 general elections.
