Gambian legislators on Monday voted down a proposed new constitution aimed at reforming the country’s governance system after decades of authoritarian rule, with opposition leaders criticizing the draft for excluding key stakeholders.
The bill, which sought to replace the 1997 constitution that enabled former dictator Yahya Jammeh to entrench his power following a 1994 coup, failed to secure the required three-quarters majority in the National Assembly. Only 35 out of 56 lawmakers supported the measure.
Justice Minister and Attorney General Dawda Jallow urged lawmakers to set aside political differences, calling for a unified vote to establish a “stronger, more democratic republic that serves all our people with justice and dignity.” However, his appeal did not sway enough legislators.
The draft constitution was the product of years of deliberation by the Gambia’s Constitutional Review Commission, established in June 2018. Its first version, published in November 2019, was rejected in 2020 by lawmakers aligned with President Adama Barrow over a retroactive clause that would have imposed a two-term presidential limit—a provision that would have affected Barrow’s eligibility.
The revised draft, presented four years later, removed the retroactive term limit clause. Had it passed, Barrow—who has been in office since 2017—could have sought two additional terms under the new constitution. The bill would also have required approval in a national referendum before taking effect.
Opposition lawmakers sharply criticized the drafting process, accusing the government of sidelining input from political parties and civil society groups.
Jammeh’s 22-year rule was marked by widespread human rights abuses and the diversion of state funds for personal use, according to the current government and rights organizations. He fled to Equatorial Guinea in 2017 after losing the presidential election to Barrow, then a political outsider, and eventually relinquished power.
The rejection of the draft leaves The Gambia’s constitutional reform process in limbo, prolonging uncertainty over the country’s democratic trajectory after years of dictatorship.