Gambian Parliament Rejects Controversial New Constitution Draft

By Zainab Imam 

In a major setback for constitutional reform, Gambian lawmakers have rejected a proposed new draft constitution aimed at replacing the controversial 1997 charter enacted during the era of former dictator Yahya Jammeh.

The draft bill, which required a two-thirds majority to pass, fell short during the vote in the National Assembly. Critics say the draft failed to reflect broad national consensus and excluded key stakeholders from the review process, raising concerns about transparency and inclusivity.

A major point of contention in the document was its clause on presidential term limits. While the draft introduced a two-term limit for future presidents, it notably did not apply the limit retroactively. This raised alarms among opposition groups and civil society organizations who feared it could enable incumbent President Adama Barrow to seek two additional five-year terms beyond his current tenure.

The draft constitution was part of a wider effort to strengthen democracy and accountability in The Gambia following the fall of Jammeh in 2017. Many had hoped that a new charter would provide a clean break from the country’s autocratic past.

With the bill's rejection, the future of constitutional reform in The Gambia remains uncertain, sparking fresh debate over the nation's democratic trajectory.

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