In a significant development, Gambian lawmakers entered into a review stage for the Criminal Crimes and Criminal Procedure Bills to abolish existing laws dating back to 1933.
These changes aim to bring the legal system into the modern era by removing outdated laws that limit freedom of speech, such as those related to defamation and incitement.
The new law also addresses the gap by allowing Gambian courts to handle cases of people who committed crimes abroad but returned to Gambia. This means they don’t have to resort to extradition to bring them to justice. They also seek to provide protection for whistleblowers exposing corruption.
Additionally, the revision will update the old guidelines of the judgment to reflect what is considered fair and appropriate today.
The bill was introduced by the then Minister of Justice during the Fifth Congress, where it was committed to the Human Rights Commission for further scrutiny before it was submitted before the Plenary Session.
The Parliament made several amendments and the bill was renamed the Criminal Crimes and Procedural Bill 2025.
A new version of the Criminal Crime Bill includes harsh penalties for crimes like incitement and illegal oaths, while also providing protection for whistleblowers exposing corruption.
“This is an important step in aligning our laws with democratic values and international standards,” the Justice Minister said.
The new proposal has been debated in Parliament, and quick-passing optimism has passed as the Gambia tackles modernising its legal and institutional systems. These changes serve as models for judicial reform in the broader region.
