Editorial: Hypocrisy Has No Place in the Gambia Police Force

Superintendent David Kujabi’s conduct is a test of leadership, discipline, and integrity in the GPF

The credibility of the Gambia Police Force (GPF) rests on discipline, integrity, and professionalism. When these values are undermined, the entire institution suffers. Today, that credibility is being tested by the conduct of Superintendent David Kujabi—a man whose rise within the Force tells a story not of merit, but of privilege and Kujabi did not build his career through the rigors of professional policing. He joined the police as a cadet after working as a teacher at Bwiam School. Since then, his postings have been confined to headquarters, where he secured a position as Police Public Relations Officer and later benefited from secondment opportunities. Despite his senior rank, he has never acquired the practical experience that defines a true police officer. This lack of grounding is evident in his recent behavior. Instead of upholding discipline, Kujabi has chosen to take to social media, styling himself as a critic of the very institution he serves. He couches his attacks in the language of democracy and accountability, but what lies beneath is clear: disgruntlement, indiscipline, and a dangerous disregard for the chain of command. A serving officer cannot claim to defend institutional values while openly violating the code of conduct that binds every member of the GPF. Worse still, Gambians remember the past. During the repressive era of Yahya Jammeh—when citizens were killed, silenced, and brutalized—Kujabi was no defender of justice. He was not among those who stood with the oppressed. Instead, he benefited from proximity to the regime, rewarded with promotions and privileges that ordinary Gambians could not dream of. For such a man to now lecture colleagues and the public on democracy and justice is the height of hypocrisy. Those who served and prospered under tyranny cannot suddenly claim the moral high ground when it suits them. This behavior is not harmless. It erodes public trust, undermines ongoing reforms, and threatens the integrity of the Force. If officers are allowed to publicly disparage leadership and institutional decisions with impunity, the GPF will descend into indiscipline and chaos. Leadership must not allow this dangerous precedent to take root. The solution is clear: Superintendent David Kujabi must face decisive disciplinary action. Whether through dismissal or demotion, the message must be unmistakable—unprofessionalism, hypocrisy, and betrayal of the institution will not be tolerated. Anything less would be a betrayal of the Force itself and of the Gambian people. The GPF is at a crossroads. To emerge as a truly professional, impartial, and disciplined institution, it must cleanse itself of double standards and hold its officers accountable. The Gambian people deserve a police service built on loyalty, discipline, and integrity—not opportunism disguised as principle. If the GPF cannot confront hypocrisy within its own ranks, it will never command the respect of the nation it claims to serve.