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Written by: Alieu Jallow
The National Director of Caritas Gambia, Francis Dominic Mendy, has warned that President Adama Barrow’s decision to seek a third term has fueled accusations of democratic backsliding and eroded public trust ahead of The Gambia’s December 2026 presidential election.
Mendy made the remarks while addressing stakeholders at the launch of the National Election Response Group (NERG), organised by the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-The Gambia).
He said the country’s next elections will take place against a backdrop of significant democratic and governance challenges, including stalled constitutional reforms and incomplete security sector transformation.
“The Gambia’s December 2026 elections will unfold against a backdrop of democratic fragility, stalled constitutional reform, and incomplete security sector transformation,” Mendy said.
He noted that Barrow, who came to power after defeating former President Yahya Jammeh in the 2016 election, had campaigned as part of a coalition that pledged a three-year transitional presidency. Mendy argued that the President’s decision to seek a third term has generated concerns about democratic governance.
“President Adama Barrow’s controversial bid for a third term, coupled with regional instability marked by coups and authoritarian resurgence, raises serious concerns about political stability, public trust, and the prospects for peaceful elections. His decision to run for a third term has fueled accusations of democratic backsliding and eroded public trust,” he said.
Mendy also pointed to the failure to adopt a new constitution in both 2020 and 2024, attributing the setbacks to political deadlock. He said proposed reforms, including presidential term limits, stronger judicial independence and enhanced checks on executive power, were blocked by political actors opposed to the retroactive application of term limits.
“This impasse undermines democratic consolidation and leaves the system vulnerable to executive overreach,” he said.
While acknowledging improvements in press freedom since the end of Jammeh’s rule, Mendy cautioned that recent reports of intimidation targeting journalists and civil society activists show those gains remain fragile.
“Press freedom has improved since Jammeh’s rule, with The Gambia’s global ranking improving from 145th to 58th. However, recent intimidation of journalists and activists demonstrates that democratic gains remain fragile,” he added.
On the security sector, Mendy said the legacy of former President Yahya Jammeh continues to pose challenges, noting that some security personnel implicated in serious human rights violations remain within the system while transitional justice efforts are still underway.
He referenced the establishment of an ECOWAS-backed special court in 2024 to prosecute crimes committed during the Jammeh era and said the continued presence of the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG), deployed since 2017, reflects the country’s ongoing security vulnerabilities.
“President Barrow launched reforms to professionalise the military and police, but without a new constitution these reforms lack a firm legal foundation. Weak institutions could leave the country vulnerable to instability during elections,” he said.
As steps towards peaceful elections, Mendy called for renewed consensus on constitutional reform to restore public confidence, stronger election observation by ECOWAS and the African Union to deter violence and enhance credibility, guarantees for press freedom and civil society participation, and accelerated transitional justice to address abuses committed during the Jammeh era and promote national healing.
He concluded that the 2026 presidential election will be a defining moment for The Gambia’s democratic journey.
“The Gambia’s 2026 elections are a critical test of democratic consolidation after decades of authoritarian rule. Without constitutional reform and stronger security guarantees, the elections risk deepening instability. Regional support from ECOWAS, the African Union, and international partners will be essential to ensure peaceful, credible, and secure elections,” he concluded.
