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The survey methodology includes a sample of the survey that involved 1,200 adult Gambians who were interviewed last July and August that yielded a margin of error +/-3 percentage points with a 95% confidence level.
The survey is as refreshing as it is revealing, covering a wide range of issues that the government is currently grappling with. On whether ECOMIG should stay or leave, the survey found that Gambians are split on this very vexing issue. If you are young and between the ages of 18 and 35 or you live in West Coast and Upper River Region who have been identified as men, educated citizens and urban residents are somewhat more likely for ECOMIG to leave Gambia than women, the uneducated and those who live in the rural area.
The respondents, although split on ECOMIG, were certain of their views on the Gambia Armed Forces (GFA). A majority - 60% - say the GFA "often" or "always" will protect the country from security threats and half (50%) say they are respectful to citizens. However, only 37% say they get the necessary resources required to be an effective force.
At the personal security level, Gambians feel less secure. In the past year alone, 40% of Gambians say they have something stolen from their homes, 36% feel unsafe just walking in their neighborhood, 25% fear crime in their homes and one in every fourteen Gambians (7%) claimed to have been physically attacked.
On political violence, the numbers aren't very reassuring either. For instance, in the last two years, 49% of half of respondents have feared violence during public protest while 53% fear neighborhood violence. 56% of Gambians expect violence at political events and one in six or 17% actually experienced violence in the neighborhood or at political events.
Public expectations and trust of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) established, among things, to investigate human rights abuses under Jammeh, was found to be low among Gambians. When Gambians were asked the two most important outcomes of the TRRC, 34% cited national peace, reconciliation, forgiveness and healing, 30% hope for a proper and accurate record of human rights abuses under Jammeh and 28% expects those found guilty of crime to be prosecuted.
On the specific remedies and reparations for victims, they registered the lowest. However, when taken together i.e. supporting victims and families (16%), returning seized property (12%), offering monetary compensation (8%), offering non-monetary compensation like free education for victims and/or their children and medical care (5%) and offering proper burial for victims (2%), 43% of those surveyed expects the TRRC to extend these remedies to victims and their families.
On the issue of trust, 46% of Gambians trust the TRRC and the CRC "a lot" or "somewhat", 29% trust the commissions or refuse to answer the question. The TRRC and CRC are the least trusted even though they have barely commenced work in earnest, signalling a rough road ahead for both Commissions.
Among the other key institutions, political parties are among the least trusted with 38% and the highest on the question of trust are religious leaders with 85% and traditional leaders 71% and the president 67%.
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The Afrobarometer project manager for the Center for Policy, Research and Strategic Studies is Mr. Sait Matty Jaw who heads a ten of ten researchers from the Political Science, Journalism, Sociology and the Development Studies Departments of the University of The Gambia.
