This is a copy of the Janjanbureh Peace Accord 2021 provided to Gambian Journalists on 26th October 2021. The Janjanbureh Peace Accord 2021 was endorsed by 12 Gambian Party Leaders leaving only 6 Parties Leaders who have not signed. The six parties who have not signed the Janjanbureh Peace Accord are UDP, GPDP, NRP, GDC, NPP and GANU. It’s expected that two other Parties should have signed the Peace Accord by the end of 26th October 2021.
Below is the Janjanbureh Peace Accord 2021 by the Gambia’s Inter-Party Committee (IPC).
THE GAMBIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2021: POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS PEACE PLEDGE (aka, JANJANBUREH PEACE ACCORD) MADE ON SEPTEMBER 25th, 2021
We the undersigned leaders and representatives of registered political parties in The Gambia, met at its 3RD Quarterly Breakfast Meeting at Janjanbureh, in Central River Region at the instance of the Inter-Party Committee (IPC), with the objective to pledge and secure our total commitment to peaceful election campaigns ahead of the December 2021 Presidential election and subsequent elections in The Gambia.
Reaffirming that registered political parties in The Gambia through their leaders have subscribed to the Inter-Party Committee’s Memorandum of Understanding and Code of Conduct to promote peaceful political dialogues, credible electoral process, and foster national unity; and understand the imperatives for its leaders, officials and supporters to adhere to the terms of the MoU as well as the IEC’s Code on Election Campaign Ethics (The Order);
Determined to avoid any conduct or behavior that will endanger the political stability or security of the country, and to place national interest above personal and partisan considerations;
Reaffirming that the IPC, political parties and party leaders in The Gambia are committed to peaceful, inclusive, and issues-driven campaigns in the run-up to and beyond the 2021 Presidential election;
Conscious of the fact that the struggle among the various political parties and their supporters over the votes of the Gambian electorates in the impending December 2021 Presidential election have continued to generate fear and apprehensions among electoral stakeholders including the electorates;
Cognizant of the need to take proactive measures to prevent and/or mitigate hate speech, fake news and electoral violence, before, during and after the Presidential election, and reaffirm our commitment to the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, as well as the unity and existence of The Gambia as an entity.
We hereby reaffirm and commit to fully abide by all the rules and regulations as laid down in the legal framework for elections in The Gambia, especially the 1997 Constitution; the Elections Act 2009; the IPC MoU and Code of Conduct and as well as the IEC Code on Election Campaign Ethics as our guiding principles in the run-up to the 2021 presidential election, and totally submit ourselves and our parties as follows:
Voter Education
a) Intensity and expand the scope of our civic and elections education activities to improve our members’ awareness and understanding of the relevant electoral laws, IEC guidelines, and the normative codes of conduct;
b)Strengthen the policy and institutional capacities of our political parties so that internal compliance with the electoral laws and normative codes of conduct ratified by our political parties will be stronger and become widespread;
c) Promote respectful and productive dialogue by organizing our campaigns around constituency and national issues that affect the present and future of Gambian citizens, rather than on tribal, religious or personal considerations, and to discipline party members and candidates who engage in personal attacks;
Conduct of Political Parties / Candidates
a) To support all institutions of government involved in conducting or securing the elections in particular the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the security forces – to act with professionalism, impartiality and transparency;
b) Respect the right of all other parties to campaign freely and to disseminate their political ideas and principles without fear;
c) Respect freedom of speech, of the press, and of peaceful assembly;
d) Refrain from disrupting or frustrating the legitimate activities of other political parties, including the holding of political rallies and meetings;
e) Refrain from defacing or destroying the posters, leaflets and handbills of other political parties and their candidates;
f) Conduct our political campaigns in such a manner that the ability of the Police or other security agencies to perform their roles and duties in enforcing the law and maintaining law and order will not be hindered whatsoever whether at the polling station, constituency, regional or national levels;
g) In this Pledge, references to “political parties”, shall, as provided in the context, include independent candidates.
Language
a) Organize and conduct all our campaign activities in a manner that contributes to a congenial and peaceful atmosphere;
b) Take a definitive stand against hate speech, misinformation or fake news (online or offline), intimidation of opponents, and other forms of electoral impunity and unfair electoral practices;
c) Avoid any action that threatens or incites violence against any person or group of persons, and to publicly and regularly speak out against provocative utterances perpetuated by our supporters, especially the youths and party agents;
d) Refrain from making or causing to make in our names or that of our party any public statement, pronouncement, declaration or speeches that have the capacity to incite any form of violence before, during or after the election,
e) Commit not to issue advertorials, pamphlets, newsletters or posters containing language or materials that threaten or incites disorderly conduct or violence,
Violence and Intimidation
a) Hold ourselves mutually accountable as peers, especially, in promoting effective political leadership in the campaign against electoral violence, impunity and injustice;
b) Issue directives expressly forbidding our party officials, candidates, members, and supporters from intimidating any person anywhere and at any time;
c)Campaign against violence and all acts of vandalism or public disorder committed or threatened by our party officials, candidates, members or supporters
d) Respect other competing parties, persons, and their properties;
e) Respect constituted authorities on election management and refrain from violence towards agents of the government including IEC officials and security agents;
f) To accept the outcome of the votes and the results announced by IEC as long as the election is adjudged to be free, fair and credible, devoid of intimidation, violence and conducted in accordance with the provisions of the law; knowing that our laws provide avenues for legal redress should that be necessary.
Inclusion and Diversity
a) Promote meaningful and peaceful participation of women, youths and persons with disabilities in all the phases of the electoral process, and to advocate for policies and programs that advance their interests.
ENDORSED BY THE RESPECTIVE PARTY LEADERS HEREUNTO THIS 25TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2021