{"id":7078,"date":"2025-07-21T09:47:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T09:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1307007.us31.myftpupload.com\/?p=7078"},"modified":"2025-07-21T14:51:27","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T14:51:27","slug":"the-gambias-decade-long-failure-to-cap-presidential-term-limits-barrows-broken-promise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enspirefx.com\/royale\/the-gambias-decade-long-failure-to-cap-presidential-term-limits-barrows-broken-promise\/","title":{"rendered":"The Gambia\u2019s decade-long failure to cap presidential term limits, Barrow\u2019s broken promise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Presidential term limits have become a contentious issue across West Africa, with a smaller number of countries struggling to enforce them. The Gambia has faced challenges in legislating term limits despite regional and domestic pressure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gambia’s constitution has not had a clearly defined presidential term limit for decades, after former President Yahya Jammeh transitioned from a coup leader in 1994 to a democratically elected leader from 1996 to 2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barrow’s 2016 promise: A one-term presidency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The precedent became a campaign message for Adama Barrow before his election in 2016<\/a>, promising to serve only one term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This promise was seen as a commitment to democratic renewal and accountable leadership in The Gambia, as former President Jammeh, who was the second president after founding President Sir Dawda Jawara, could not give the country a presidential term limit; instead was forced into exile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The promise by President Barrow was not fulfilled after he contested and won the 2021 presidential election, with hopes of contesting in the 2026 election. However, President Barrow\u2019s one-term pledge, it must be emphasised, was not legally binding under the 1997 constitution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chronicles of the Government Constitutional Review Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Following Barrow\u2019s victory in 2016, the new government of Adama Barrow initiated a constitutional review process for the 1997 Constitution to give the country a new supreme law, which needed a key component of introducing presidential term limits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December 2017, the Constitutional Review Commission Act, 2017 was passed and the CRC began its work in 2019. In that same year, a mass protest against the Barrow government dubbed #ThreeYearsJotna<\/a> demanded that he fulfil the one-term promise and quit the presidency, which he did not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following year, a draft constitution<\/a> proposed a two-term limit, capping presidential service at 10 years (5 years per term). This draft was seen as progressive and necessary to prevent leaders from overstaying in power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the National Assembly rejected the document in September 2020<\/a>, partly because it included retroactive application of term limits that would have barred Barrow from running again. The process failed at this final step due to political opposition and concerns about limiting Barrow\u2019s eligibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Barrow breaks promise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite his initial pledge, Barrow declined to step down after his first term ended and instead formed a new party<\/a> after the collapse of the coalition that brought him to power in 2016. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the new party, the National People\u2019s Party (NPP<\/a>), he stood for re-election in 2021. He justified this decision by citing the will of his supporters and the absence of term limits in the current constitution, which legally permits him to seek further terms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a betrayal of his promise and others accepting it as lawful under existing laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When FactSpace Gambia contacted the deputy government spokesperson on Barrow\u2019s move, Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sakanu said: \u201cThe Constitution is the supreme law of the land and any other law, agreement or arrangement that is inconsistent with it is null and void. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur Gambian 1997 Constitution clearly stipulates that a Presidency who is duly elected shall serve a term of five years. The same constriction has not placed a cap on term limits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ten Years in 2026, Barrow to Run Again  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As President Barrow approaches a decade in power by 2026, he has declared intentions<\/a> to run for a third term in the next presidential race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview on QTV\u2019s State Of Affairs<\/a> on January 30, 2025, he stated that his party (NPP) is too young to lose its leader, therefore he will be seeking a third term : <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Host:<\/strong> 2026 election is fast approaching. Earlier on, you said you are a fan of term limits. Will President Barrow be seeking another term? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Barrow: \u201c<\/strong>Yes, it\u2019s not about President Barrow, it is about my party. My party is a very young party, and I don’t want my party to die at the infant stage. The party is very very young and I don’t think we are that more organised to that level to afford losing their leader at this stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So that is why, as leader and general secretary of the party, my entire team feels that the party is too young for me to hand over the party.\u201d (watch from 49 mins: 45 secs to 50 mins: 44 secs<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This has reignited debates about the need for term limits and the future of Gambian democracy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public opinion is divided, as many Gambians support term limits to prevent authoritarianism, while others back Barrow\u2019s continued leadership. The political environment remains tense as the country awaits further constitutional reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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