By Kebba AF Touray
The National Assembly of The Gambia on Monday, March 17, 2025 adopted the report from the Joint Committee on Defense and Security, Environment, Sustainable Development, and NGO Affairs, concerning the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Bill 2024.
This important bill aims to address critical gaps in the country’s crisis management, conflict prevention, and human security strategies, with a particular focus on The Gambia and the wider Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Hon. Samba Jallow, Vice Co-Chairperson of the Joint Committee, presented the report to the plenary, highlighting that the bill seeks to improve national and regional stability by establishing a coordinated framework to monitor and respond to emerging crises. This will help The Gambia to more effectively handle violent conflicts, terrorism, disease outbreaks, transnational crime, and other security threats.
“The primary aim of this Bill is to enhance the government’s ability to predict and manage a wide range of crises by creating a centralized and responsive agency,” Hon. Jallow said. He added that the bill is a response to findings from the ECOWAS Early Warning Directorate, which pointed out the fragmentation and lack of coordination in existing early warning systems across member states.
The bill proposes the creation of the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Coordinating Centre, a key entity that will focus on identifying potential crises early and ensuring timely interventions. The report also recommends the establishment of a Technical Working Group (TWG), composed of critical enforcement institutions, to provide expert advice and support to the Coordinating Centre.
Several amendments to the bill were also suggested during the presentation. For example, Clause 6, which outlines the formation of the Centre’s Board, was amended to include the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, recognizing the critical connection between food security and national stability. Additionally, the Office of National Security was recommended for inclusion in the Board, due to its crucial role in managing day-to-day crisis response.
Another proposed amendment focused on Clause 5, concerning the Centre’s functions, calling for the inclusion of the word “disseminate” to ensure that gathered data is effectively communicated to the public and relevant stakeholders.
After thorough discussions, the National Assembly Members adopted the report, marking a major step toward improving The Gambia’s capacity to handle crises effectively. The adoption of the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Bill 2024 is seen as a significant move in strengthening the country’s legal and institutional framework for crisis management and human security.
