By Muhammed M.S. Bah
Hon. Momodou Tangara, the Foreign Affairs Minister tabled motion aimed at strengthening the security sector on Tuesday. The motion was titled ‘Agreement between the Republic of The Gambia and The Geneva Center for DACF (Democratic Control of Armed Force) for the establishment of a DCAF Office in The Gambia’.
Mr. Tangara said The Geneva Center for democratic control of the Armed Forces is a leading center of excellence in justice and security sector governance. He added that It is dedicated to improving human and state security through the strengthening of democratic governance, rule of law and respect for human rights. This he says is achieved “by supporting states and societies to improve security sector governance, assisting international actors, supports states to improving their security sector governance, contributing to good security sector governance policy.”
The Foreign affairs Minister said the 18 months EU-ICSP funded project is organized along two main lines of intervention, interlink through an inclusive vision of security sector governance. He noted that reform focuses on supporting the government of the Gambia in support of launch deep and inclusive security sector reform process, which he said will enhance its external oversight by state and non-state actors.
“Following the election President Barrow in the 2016 elections, putting an end to 22 years of dictatorship, the newly elected government launched series of inclusive reform, as part of the government’s wider reform agenda to uphold the higher standards of democracy, good governance, and rule of law’, he told Lawmakers.
He stressed that “this includes the national development plan 2018-2020, the launch of the transitional justice process and security sector reform process.”
“Honorable Speaker I beg that this august Assembly does consider and ratify the agreement between the government of The Gambia and the Center for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) signed by the two parties”, he concludes.
The National Assembly referred the agreement to the Defense, Security and Foreign Affairs committees of the National Assembly for scrutiny, consideration and possible adoption.