Religious leaders today urged Gambians to embrace peace and tolerance ahead of next month’s National Assembly elections.

The faith leaders made the call during a townhall conference with media and civil society groups aimed at promoting an election code of conduct for parliamentary candidates. 

The Supreme Islamic Council President Imam Essa Darboe described the role of media and CSOs as “very important”.

“Our concern is unity and peace. We want to have a better Gambia,” he told the conference, calling on the groups to support the implementation of the election code of conduct.

“As religious leaders our concerns is peace,” he added.

Bishop Odico from the Christian Council urged journalists and civil society groups to focus on the candidates programmes.

“You have a stake in maintaining peace. The code of conduct is not only to the politicians, all of us have a stake in this. Let us protect the code of conduct,” the Bishop said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba