We, the undersigned petitioners, demand immediate action to ensure that Gambians in the Diaspora exercise their rights to vote in 2026 elections and beyond.
According to Section 39(1) of the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia, “Every citizen of The Gambia eighteen years or older and of sound mind shall have the right to vote,” a right that includes all Gambians regardless of their location. The Supreme Court reaffirmed this in its March 2021 ruling: "Every Gambian, including those residing outside the jurisdiction, is entitled to be registered and to vote.”
With approximately 200,000 Gambians living abroad contributing at least 31 percent ($775.6 million) in remittances in 2024, it is clear that excluding them from voting in national elections is a violation of their constitutional rights and creates a disconnect from democratic governance. This must be addressed to ensure all Gambians have a voice in shaping their country's future.
Since the Supreme Court's ruling, the IEC and the government have not acted adequately to facilitate Diaspora voting. Therefore, we demand:
1. Voting Registration: Promptly implement a process to register all Gambians in the Diaspora as voters and make arrangements for them to vote in the 2026 elections.
2. Provision of Finances: Allocate resources to ensure the logistical arrangements for diaspora participation.
3. Logistics and Administrative arrangements: Make the necessary logistics arrangements to facilitate the exercise of their voting rights.
Failure to honour the right to vote will be viewed as a violation of the constitution. Consequently, we expect the IEC and the government to take action to ensure the Diaspora vote in 2026.
We respectfully request your urgent attention to this matter.
Thank you for considering our petition.
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