NDI warns of hate speech, weak election rules ahead of Gambia’s presidential election

By Dawda Baldeh

Rising hate speech, weak campaign finance laws, and stalled constitutional reforms could undermine The Gambia’s democratic progress ahead of its December 5, 2026 presidential election, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) has warned.

The warning follows a five-day pre-election assessment mission to the West African nation from August 24 to 28, co-led by former US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield and former Nigerian electoral commission chairman Professor Attahiru Jega.

Delivering the delegation’s report, Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, Senior Associate for Africa at NDI, stated that while technical preparations remain on track, the credibility of the upcoming vote will serve as a crucial test for the country’s democratic trajectory.

“Many are also apprehensive that negative trends such as hate speech could exacerbate identity politics and ethnic tensions in the country,” Dr. Fomunyoh said.

Dr. Fomunyoh disclosed that civil society and security officials identified online hate speech and misinformation as major threats to a peaceful poll, citing four specific instances of ethnic incitement documented during the visit.

The mission called on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to resolve delays regarding the Revising Courts, which are tasked with adjudicating 1,694 outstanding objections to the provisional voter register.

“The IEC should ensure the timely sitting of the Revising Courts so that a finalized register of voters is made public and accessible to all relevant stakeholders,” NDI recommended.

The Institute also expressed concern over the continued use of attestations to establish citizenship for voter registration, warning that the practice risks disenfranchising legitimate voters while potentially allowing non-citizens or underage individuals to register.

Beyond administrative hurdles, NDI highlighted significant systemic vulnerabilities, including unmonitored campaign financing and reports of voter inducement using items such as cooking equipment, sports jerseys, and ambulances.

The delegation further criticized the lack of progress on constitutional reform and the retention of repressive legal instruments, specifically citing the Public Order Act of 1961—a colonial-era law requiring police permits for public gatherings.

NDI also drew attention to the sharp underrepresentation of women and youth in governance, despite women comprising 57 percent of registered voters and young people under 35 making up more than 75 percent of the population.