The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned the National Assembly’s decision to reject voting rights for Gambians abroad, a move that has drawn strong criticism from both local and diaspora communities.
The vote, in which 25 lawmakers—mainly from the ruling party and its allies—opposed the bill, has effectively barred Gambians living overseas from participating in elections, despite their significant financial contributions through remittances.
Opposition politicians and diaspora advocates have labeled the decision as undemocratic. Serekunda West legislator Madi Ceesay described it as disenfranchisement, while critics pointed out the contradiction of politicians benefiting from diaspora support yet denying them the right to vote.
Justice Minister Dawda Jallow defended the rejection, citing logistical and legal challenges, including the absence of diaspora constituencies in the electoral framework.
In a statement, the NHRC urged the government and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to take immediate action to ensure that Gambians abroad can vote in the 2026 presidential election. The commission emphasized that voting is a fundamental democratic right recognized under international human rights treaties to which The Gambia is a signatory.
The NHRC also noted that the government and IEC had previously assured the public that steps would be taken to facilitate diaspora voting. However, the National Assembly’s rejection of Clause 14 of the Elections Bill 2021 has reversed those commitments, effectively excluding a large segment of the population that significantly contributes to the country’s economy—remittances accounted for 31.5% of GDP in 2024.
Despite constitutional and logistical concerns cited by the Justice Minister, the NHRC argued that the government and IEC have had ample time to address these issues. The commission highlighted that other West African nations, including Senegal, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, and Niger, have successfully implemented diaspora voting and insisted that The Gambia can do the same with the right political will.
