Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – The Gambian National Assembly has voted against a provision in the electoral laws that sought to grant Gambians in the diaspora the right to participate in future elections, a move that has sparked criticism and renewed concerns over the government’s commitment to inclusive democracy.

The provision was defeated after 25 parliamentarians aligned with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and its allies voted against it, while 14 opposition lawmakers, primarily from the United Democratic Party (UDP), supported the measure.

Hon. Madi Ceesay, the National Assembly Member (NAM) for Serekunda West, took to Facebook to decry the decision, emphasizing that the vote effectively disenfranchises Gambians living abroad.

His UDP colleague, Hon. Yahya Sanyang of Latrikunda Sabiji, later released a video condemning the ruling party and its allies for what he described as a deliberate attempt to exclude the diaspora from the country’s democratic process.

“Today was a very bad day in the flow of the National Assembly proceedings,” Sanyang said. He added that “NPP NAMs, NRP NAMs, and some independent NAMs from Foni conspired and denied diaspora people from voting in all subsequent national elections. This is so disheartening; it erodes all the democratic gains we could have consolidated since 2016.”

On the National Assembly floor, Almameh Gibba, a member of the Foni Kansala National Assembly, requested that the Speaker of the National Assembly order Hon. Yahya Sanyang to take down his Facebook video, arguing that it is ineffective in resolving the diaspora vote controversy. The Speaker did not respond to Gibba’s request in the way that was anticipated.

Government’s Legal Justification: the Chicken and the Egg

The government, through Attorney General Dawda Jallow, defended its position by citing constitutional concerns. He argued that since the diaspora is not officially recognized as a constituency under Gambian law, allowing Gambians abroad to vote would present logistical and legal challenges.

“We all agree that Section 39 guarantees the right of Gambians to be registered to vote,” minister Dawda Jallow began. “But the Supreme Court, in the Bakary Bunja Darboe case, affirmed a crucial detail—registration must occur within a National Assembly constituency.”

The Attorney General proceeded. “Because the diaspora does not belong to any National Assembly constituency. Section 88 of the Constitution defines these constituencies, and there are currently fifty-three. To allow diaspora voting, we would need to create a new constituency for them. And that requires a constitutional amendment.”

Minister Dawda Jallow added. “If you give them (IEC) the authority to register the diaspora now, they will still be unable to implement it because there is no diaspora constituency. It’s a chicken-and-egg problem.”

According to the Attorney General, “The expectation was that the Draft Constitution would have provided a clear framework. But with that process stalled, we are left with gaps that make implementation impossible.”

His contention is that, in spite of numerous pleas for reform, the Gambia’s administration has consistently encountered ongoing legal and administrative obstacles as the cause of the postponement of diaspora voting.

Many diasporans, however, think that these administrative and legal obstacles are merely fabricated justifications meant to completely ignore the diaspora vote issue.

Diaspora Backlash and Supreme Court Ruling

The decision has triggered strong reactions from Gambians abroad, with many expressing frustration on social media. Critics argue that the government’s refusal to pass the bill demonstrates a disregard for the contributions and political rights of Gambians in the diaspora, who play a significant role in the country’s economy through remittances.

Following the National Assembly’s decision, diaspora advocates and opposition figures are expected to mount pressure on the government to revisit the issue. With the 2026 elections on the horizon, the fight for diaspora voting rights is far from over.