Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – President Adama Barrow has appointed Joseph Colley as the new chairman of The Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), signaling a deliberate choice for institutional stability and continuity ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 presidential elections.
Colley, a seasoned electoral official, has spent the past 24 years at the IEC, steadily rising through its ranks. He began as a junior officer before becoming Director of Training and Communication, Vice Chairman, and recently served as Acting Chairman following the departure of Alieu Momarr Njie in March this year.
His appointment to the top position was widely expected, given his deep familiarity with the intricacies of Gambia’s electoral framework.
Observers see Colley’s promotion as a strategic move by President Barrow to maintain continuity in the country’s electoral management at a time of rising political tensions.
Many within the IEC believe that Colley’s institutional knowledge, honed over two decades, will not only ensure a smooth leadership transition but also safeguard the credibility of future elections.
“This is a clear commitment to stability and consistency,” remarked a senior IEC official. “Colley understands the arcana of our electoral process better than most and has the experience to navigate the challenges ahead.”
While Colley brings technical continuity, President Barrow has also infused the IEC leadership with a dose of seasoned diplomatic and administrative expertise through his nomination of Cherno Jallow as Deputy Chairman.
A career diplomat and veteran peacekeeper, Jallow has spent more than two decades serving in conflict zones across Africa and Asia under various United Nations missions.
Jallow’s career spans critical assignments in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Sierra Leone, and East Timor, where he served in roles ranging from Civil Affairs Officer to Political Affairs Officer. He also served as Deputy Permanent Secretary at The Gambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the late 1990s.
Known for his crisis management skills and commitment to peacebuilding, Jallow has been widely praised for his contributions to global peacekeeping efforts, often in volatile and dangerous environments.
His nomination is seen as a move to bolster the IEC’s capacity to manage political complexities ahead of The Gambia’s most fiercely contested election in recent memory.
“With Cherno Jallow’s wealth of international experience in mediation, conflict resolution, and governance, the IEC leadership now combines deep domestic electoral know-how with global administrative finesse,” a political analyst noted.
As The Gambia prepares for the 2026 polls, all eyes will now be on the Colley-Jallow partnership, which blends long-standing institutional knowledge with high-level diplomatic experience. Together, they are expected to steer the country’s electoral body through what is shaping up to be a critical political crossroads.
