Gambia’s Darboe pledges better pay for security forces
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Kerr Fatou
Gambian opposition leader Ousainou Darboe has pledged to raise salaries and improve working conditions for security forces if elected president on 5 December. At a rally in Lamin, he linked some police officers’ requests for money to low pay and deteriorating infrastructure, Kerr Fatou reports.
United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainu ANM Darboe has promised to increase salaries and improve working conditions and social protection for security forces if elected president of The Gambia on 5 December. He made the pledge at a UDP political meeting in Lamin, Kerr Fatou reports.
The opposition leader cited difficulties faced by police officers, soldiers and other uniformed personnel, including a lack of equipment at some police stations, transport problems and long working hours. He said requests for money from motorists by some police officers should be considered in light of inadequate salaries, rather than simply condemned, according to Kerr Fatou.
Ousainu Darboe announced that the UDP would include a comprehensive security-sector reform in its programme. He referred in particular to pay, infrastructure and institutional support for personnel, while noting that soldiers may be deployed when the country faces threats or border attacks, Kerr Fatou reports.
The pledge is part of the UDP’s campaign for Gambia’s presidential election, following the agreement signed in September with Anda Jubbanti Rewmi and the coalition’s commitment to a presidential term limited to five years.
