The courts stand as the last sanctuary of justice in The Gambia. They serve every citizen, UDP, NPP, independent, or apolitical, with the same constitutional fidelity. 

Yet our national reaction to judicial decisions reveals a troubling moral inconsistency: praise when the verdict favours us, insults when it does not. This selective respect is not only intellectually dishonest; it is corrosive to the rule of law.

In recent months, this contradiction has intensified. After the High Court acquitted Ousainou Bojang and his sister Amie Bojang, critics of the judiciary suddenly celebrated its independence. Social media praised the courts. 

Even opposition leader Ousainou Darboe, in a live Facebook broadcast, hailed the verdict as proof of fairness. For a moment, the judiciary was seen as a beacon of justice. But this admiration is fleeting, conditional, and transactional.

The same political actors who praise the courts today have a long history of attacking them when rulings do not align with their interests. The most glaring example remains the UDP 2021 presidential election petition, dismissed by the Supreme Court for failing to meet constitutional and procedural requirements. 

Instead of accepting the ruling, segments of the UDP diaspora launched a coordinated campaign of insults against the Chief Justice and the entire bench. Ethnic slurs were hurled. The Court’s integrity was questioned. The leadership remained silent, offering no condemnation of the abuse carried out in their name.

This was not an isolated incident. When Ousainou Darboe’s tax‑evasion conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court, the same pattern emerged. The Court was accused of bias. Judges were vilified. The judiciary’s legitimacy was dragged through the mud simply because the ruling was unfavourable.

Yet when the courts rule in favour of the UDP, the tone changes instantly. When the Supreme Court reinstated Ya Kumba Jaiteh to the National Assembly, the decision was celebrated as a triumph of justice. No one questioned the judges’ integrity then. More recently, when the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) won against the Inspector General of Police and the Ministry of Lands, the verdict prompted jubilation. 

The same courts that were once dismissed as compromised suddenly became democracy’s guardians. Such a contradiction weakens civic culture. Justice is only embraced when it is politically convenient.

What is now alarming is that selective respect for the judiciary is no longer limited to the opposition. Members of the ruling NPP have voiced disagreement with Justice Jaiteh’s ruling, echoing earlier criticisms of the UDP. Instead of respecting the verdict, some NPP voices question the judge’s motives and undermine the ruling online, mirroring behavior they once condemned. This is dangerous. 

When both opposition and ruling parties attack the courts after unfavourable decisions, the judiciary becomes a political target. Judicial officers become targets. Police officers are collateral. The rule of law suffers under partisan emotion.

A nation cannot build democracy on selective morality toward the courts. The judiciary is not a political weapon or prize. It is the Republic’s foundation, and its authority must be respected, especially when decisions are unpopular or painful. 

The rule of law demands consistency. Elevating or condemning the judiciary by outcome erodes democracy. Democracy demands maturity. Justice demands humility.

Gambians must see that courts do not exist to validate political emotions. They interpret the law, which does not bend to any party, leader, or crowd. Insulting judges or questioning the courts’ legitimacy after an unfavorable ruling is not activism; it is an assault on the Constitution and a betrayal of the democratic values we claim to defend.

Let this be a clear call to all UDP and NPP members, and every citizen who believes in justice: Commit to respecting the judiciary at all times, regardless of which side benefits from a verdict. Speak out against attacks on judges and uphold the rule of law, whether your side wins or loses. 

The Court is not a drum to be beaten when convenient and discarded when silent. It is the pillar that holds the nation upright. Weakening it weakens ourselves. Insulting it is an insult to our democracy. Respecting it only in victory shows a misunderstanding of justice. 

Let us rise above partisanship; actively defend the judiciary with the same commitment in defeat as in victory. Only then can we be a nation truly governed by law, not by emotion.

By Alagi Yorro Jallow