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As The Gambia heads towards the Dec. 5, 2026 presidential election, many have raised concerns over ethnic and identity-based rhetoric that dominated conversations during President Adama Barrow’s ongoing Meet the People Tour.
Statements made during the tour about ethnic communities, nationality and perceived origins have triggered condemnation and renewed warnings about the dangers of turning political competition into identity-based hostility.
The concern is particularly significant because The Gambia’s diverse population includes several distinct ethnic groups that have coexisted with little open strife over the years. However, recent comments by political leaders have been perceived to be threatening the country’s fragile democracy and stability.
The United Nations defines hate speech as communication that attacks or uses discriminatory or pejorative language against individuals or groups based on characteristics such as ethnicity, nationality, religion, race, or descent.
The UN also warns that incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence represents the most serious form of hate speech.
What has been flagged?
One of the most prominent incidents involved the Minister of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs, Hamat N. K. Bah, who recently urged supporters to oppose the opposition during an NPP gathering in Farafenni in the North Bank Region. He warned that if the United Democratic Party (UDP) wins the election, some people could be forced to leave the country.
“You all see what UDP is doing about the supplementary voter registration. There are many ethnic groups in The Gambia, but UDP only targets the Fulas and Wolofs.
“Ninety-five per cent of the voters they objected to in court are either Fulas or Wolofs. If you vote for UDP, you will all pack and leave this country,” Bah said.
He also stated: “We will not allow a foreigner to lead this country. If we do, Gambia will be the new Lebanon.”
The remarks have drawn criticism for invoking ethnicity and perceived foreign origins amid political competition.
The reference to “Fulas and Wolofs” is particularly significant because it frames entire ethnic communities as electoral choices.
Although Bah did not name anyone specifically, some observers have linked comments about a “foreigner” and “Lebanon” to Talib Ahmed Bensouda, a prominent opposition figure said to have Lebanese roots.
Other identity-based remarks
Another controversy emerged after nominated National Assembly Member Maimuna Ceesay-Darboe made remarks about Banjulians at an NPP gathering in Baddibu.
According to The Standard, which reported on a video recording of the event, she said: “Banjulians do not have farms or gardens, but they gain more from what the government provides.”
She went on to contrast Banjulians with people from Baddibu and Kiang, suggesting that Banjulians benefit from political and government opportunities while others remain engaged in political struggles.
The remarks prompted a public response from Banjul Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe.
The UDP has also alleged that other statements made during the ongoing tour have targeted ethnic communities.
In a statement issued on Oct. 4, 2026, the party cited remarks attributed to an NPP-allied National Assembly member, Sainey Jawara, who allegedly accused Mandinkas of being the ethnic group that “goes around insulting people.”
“What Hamat N. K. Bah said is true; UDP is taking Fulas and Wolofs to the revising court. Are they the only party in the country?” Jawara said.
After the remarks went viral and triggered public outrage, Jawara later issued an apology published on What’s On Gambia.
Why does hate speech matter ahead of the presidential election?
The Gambia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country where political parties compete for votes across communities.
Identity-based political rhetoric can therefore have consequences beyond ordinary political disagreement.
The National Democratic Institute’s August 2026 pre-election assessment specifically warned that hate speech could exacerbate identity politics and ethnic tensions ahead of the presidential election.
The warning comes as national institutions and civil society organisations step up preparations for an increasingly complex information environment where misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech pose significant challenges to electoral integrity.
Why must political leaders denounce hate speech?
Political leaders and public officials have particularly influential platforms. When identity-based rhetoric comes from senior political figures, supporters can repeat it, social media can amplify it, and communities can normalise it.
The issue, therefore, is not whether politicians should be allowed to criticise one another. Political criticism, disagreement and robust debate are legitimate parts of an election. The concern arises when political competition crosses into language that targets entire communities because of their identity.
With the presidential election less than three months away, calls for political actors to reject hate speech, regardless of party affiliation, are important to protecting social cohesion and keeping the campaign focused on policies, leadership records and national issues rather than ethnicity and identity.
Interior Minister Abdoulie Sanyang has previously warned that tribal incitement and hate speech during the electoral period could threaten national peace, while calling for political competition based on tolerance and mutual respect.
Madi Jobarteh, a human rights activist, told DUBAWA, “Political differences should not become ethnic differences, and an election should not turn identity into a weapon.”
Conclusion
Robust criticism and lively debate on national issues are essential to democratic politics. However, using ethnicity, ancestry or perceived foreignness to target or vilify specific communities can deepen social divisions.
As The Gambia approaches the December 2026 presidential election, DUBAWA will continue to monitor political rhetoric and fact-check narratives that may incite hostility, marginalise minority groups, or undermine social cohesion.