A coalition of civil society organizations, including Gambia Participates, the Election Watch Committee, Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice, and concerned Gambians, held a joint press conference on Wednesday to denounce Parliament’s decision to omit Clause 14 from the Elections Bill, 2021. This clause would have enabled Gambians living abroad to vote in public elections.
Salieu Taal, Chairperson of Gambia Participates, emphasized that the removal of Clause 14 is a serious violation of the democratic rights of Gambians living abroad. He stated that the proposed removal aims to disenfranchise these citizens.
A position paper advocating for the reinstatement of Clause 14 has been released. The paper argues that the clause is consistent with the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s 2021 ruling on diaspora voting rights. It further emphasizes that the deletion of Clause 14 violates the constitutional rights of Gambians abroad, undermines democratic participation, and contradicts the principles of good governance.
The paper urges the National Assembly to reintroduce the clause with minor adjustments to ensure that Gambian citizens abroad can exercise their right to vote in the upcoming 2026 presidential election and future referenda.
