The Gambian parliament has rejected the 2024 draft constitution after it failed to secure the required three-quarters majority during a second reading vote on July 7.
The vote ended with 35 in favor, 21 against, and one absentee—falling short of the 44 votes needed to proceed to the next legislative stage.
As a result, the draft will not progress further, marking a major setback in the government’s push for a new constitutional framework aimed at deepening democracy, rule of law, and transitional justice after years of authoritarian rule.
Despite the rejection, the Ministry of Justice reaffirmed its commitment to constitutional reform, stating that other options, including amendments to the 1997 Constitution or a national referendum, would be explored.
The reform process began in 2017 with the creation of the Constitutional Review Commission and had already seen a previous draft rejected in 2020.
The government acknowledged the efforts of local and international partners such as the CRC, National Human Rights Commission, Gambia Participates, International IDEA, UNDP, the EU, and figures like Goodluck Jonathan and Mohamed Ibn Chambas.
