CDS Ousman Gomez is right to advice the military against tribalism and partisan politics because a professional military is the backbone of any democracy. Its duty is not to choose leaders, not to favour communities, and not to intervene in political disputes. Its duty is to defend the Constitution, protect the people, and safeguard the sovereignty of the nation.
For The Gambia Armed Forces [GAF], this principle is more urgent now than ever.
As the country prepares for another election cycle and continues the difficult work of transitional justice and national reform, the temptation to drag state institutions into partisan debates will grow. The armed forces must resist it completely.
When soldiers become partisan, the country pays the price. We have seen it in our own history and across the region: politicised armies erode public trust, undermine civilian authority, and open the door to instability.
The 2016 political impasse tested the GAF. The decision by the majority of the forces to uphold the Constitution and respect the will of the people preserved peace and earned The Gambia international respect. That must remain the standard.
The armed forces derive their legitimacy not from a political party, not from an ethnic group, not from a region. They derive it from the Constitution of The Gambia and from the people they serve. The moment that line is blurred, the institution is weakened.
The Gambia is a small country with deep family, ethnic and community ties. That diversity is our strength. But it becomes a weakness when it is imported into the barracks.
Tribalism in the armed forces destroys cohesion. It breeds suspicion between officers and ranks. It makes promotions, postings and deployments look like favours instead of merit. It tells a young Gambian that his uniform is not enough — that his surname or village matters more.
GAF must be a melting pot where a soldier’s identity is first and last: Gambian. Training, discipline, and command structure must continue to ensure that no unit, no command, and no decision is seen through an ethnic lens.
GAF today is engaged in critical work: border security, peacekeeping, support to civilian authorities, and building public confidence after years of misuse under past regimes. None of that work can succeed if the public suspects the military of political or tribal bias.
International partners, Ecowas, and investors are also watching. A professional, apolitical military is a prerequisite for stability, for aid, and for the democratic credibility The Gambia has worked hard to rebuild since 2017.
The Chief of Defence Staff and senior command must enforce codes of conduct, sanction political expression in uniform, and promote officers strictly on merit.
Soldiers must be regularly reminded of their constitutional role and of the dangers of partisanship and tribalism.
The Ministry of Defence and the National Assembly must continue to provide oversight without interference in operations.
Through transparency, discipline, and service to all Gambians equally.
The Gambia’s democracy is still young. Its institutions are still being tested. In that test, the armed forces cannot afford to fail.
Let the politicians contest elections. Let the parties argue policy. Let the citizens debate the future.
The job of the Gambia Armed Forces is to protect the nation, obey civilian authority, and stay out of politics and tribalism.
That is how trust is built. That is how peace is kept. That is how the Republic is defended.