Gambian lawmakers have been told they will be voted out of office in the next election if they failed to join a WhatsApp group created to engage with their constituents. 

Concerned citizens group, who protested against the proposed judicial and legislative remuneration bills in July, laid down the new directive for the National Assembly members during a press conference on Wednesday.

“The Concerned Citizens through their strategic planning have created platforms across all constituencies to avail citizens an opportunity to hold their representatives to account. This strategic measure is aimed at mobilising, involving, and sensitising the ordinary Gambians at the grassroots level on matters related to these bills and what are the ways forward to ensure its rejection.

“Progressively, the groups will be surrendered to members of the constituencies to keep engaging their MPs and hold them to account. In light of the aforesaid, we call on the members to join their groups and ensure that they have their MPs in the said groups. Failure from any MP to join [the group] starts a campaign against the individual and ensures that the individual is denied your vote,” said Lamin Manneh, the group spokesman.

After their July protest, the parliament withdrew the bills.

However, the group wanted the house to publicly declare to the nation that the bills have been withdrawn for transparency purposes.

Mr Manneh added: “they have been withdrawn due to the concerns raised by the protesters. Notwithstanding, we want the National Assembly to publicly announce the withdrawal of these bills for the benefits of records and accountability in the future.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba