The European Union and the German government have launched a major initiative to improve policing and human rights in The Gambia, beginning with the construction of modern police stations across key regions.

Work has officially begun in Farafenni, with similar facilities set to follow in Basse, Soma, Brikama, and Markama Sirreh.

The project is part of a wider EU-German partnership to strengthen security institutions and support democratic reforms in the country.

The new stations are designed to meet international standards, placing a strong emphasis on dignity, accountability, and community trust.

Features will include separate holding cells for men, women and children, as well as private interview rooms for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

Dedicated offices for Gender and Child Welfare Units will also be part of each station, with detention facilities located away from public charge offices to ensure privacy for complainants.

“We are not just constructing buildings, we are reinforcing the principles of justice and protection,” Birgit Pickel, Director for Africa at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development said.

The project is being implemented by the German development agency GIZ, on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office, and supported by the European Union.

As part of the programme, officers from the Gambia Police Force are receiving training in sexual and reproductive health rights, gender-sensitive policing, and community engagement.

“We want a police service that listens, respects, and protects,” said Superintendent Fatou Jallow, a senior officer involved in the reform. “This initiative is helping us get there.”

By Adama Makasuba