Constitutional impasse in The Gambia

 Reports suggest that discussions on the issue between the Political leadership did not bear fruits as expected by Gambians. If leaders of the two main political parties could not agree on the terms of 2020 and 2024 draft constitutions then the Nation will be in a precarious political situation. These are the two leaders who converted the transition agreement of three years to a full five year term of office for the Presidency. It was a marriage of  convenience that was short- lived. The 1997 constitution was the basis of the agreement on a five year mandate of the President. The fundamental political mistake on the part of these leaders was the fact that there is no term limit in the very 1997 constitution which they either fail to recognize or ignore in the scheme of things. Now the price of power has proved politically costly for our democracy. There are two huddles standing in the way of a new constitution; Parliament and Referendum. We are yet to encounter further political turbulence in the constitutional process. It is unfortunate that the spirit of the country’s democratic transition is going down the drain due to major political differences in political leadership. The Gambia at 60 and there is no new constitution will be incomprehensible and unacceptable in the political outlook of the country. When leadership for power takes precedence over the democratic convictions of political leaders, democracy will fail. It is time for a healing affirmation on a new constitution that will augur well with a new Gambia. The international community that supported the country’s transition, cannot be mute on the constitutional impasse the country is now experiencing. We expect the UN, AU, EU, ECOWAS and the country’s development partners to exert pressure on the country’s political leadership for a new constitution that will establish the legal framework for governance and to ensure the peace and stability of the country. International collaboration in this regard, is relevant and of urgent necessity. The root causes of this constitutional crisis is the prevailing political bitterness and political rivalry the country is experiencing in recent years. A government of the people, by the people, must be for the people. For this to happen, calls for coequal responsibility between the government and the opposition. Sometimes, many citizens wonder why the 1997 constitution was not simply amended rather than going for the expensive undertaking of writing a new constitution that ended up in the dustbin of political assassination. It must be also stated that the draft CRC 2020 constitution, in my opinion, contributed to the crash in its adoption. It was too elaborate, too elitist and legally biased to some extent. It seems the anger against the era of dictatorship has been heavily put on the era of democracy in which the President has been severely stripped of his executive powers. That is unfair to the current President. In effective governance, certain powers must remain with the President of the republic. The shadows are gathering over our democracy and we must do something to stop its collapse. As a way forward, why can’t the politicians agree on 51+ outcome in Presidential elections instead of a simple majority as a politically compromising factor that is in the interest of political aspirants. At any rate, this new constitution must be fixed by the politicians