The Gambia will hold its next presidential election on December 5, 2026, the country’s electoral authorities announced, as President Adama Barrow’s plan to seek a third term continues to stir public debate.
Barrow, who first came to power in 2016, confirmed earlier this year that he would contest again under the National People’s Party (NPP).
His decision, while permitted under the 1997 constitution, has sparked criticism from political opponents and civil society groups who view it as a betrayal of earlier reform promises.
Efforts to introduce a new constitution with presidential term limits have repeatedly failed in parliament.
Lawmakers loyal to Barrow rejected a 2020 draft that would have barred him from seeking another term and again blocked a revised version in July 2025 after the government removed the retroactive clause.
The opposition United Democratic Party has named veteran politician Ousainou Darboe as its candidate, but divisions among opposition parties leave Barrow strongly positioned ahead of the 2026 vote.
