Gambians support new constitution despite doubts about political will

Results from the April-May 2024 survey showed that two-thirds of Gambians favored reintroduction of the rejected 2020 draft constitution, with broad support for key reforms such as presidential term limits. However, many citizens remain skeptical that political parties are truly committed to the process.

The findings of the survey were released on Friday by Sait Matty Jaw, co-founder and executive director of the Centre for Policy Research and Development (CRPD) and lecturer in political science at the University of The Gambia.

Joe, who spoke at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre in Bijilo, highlighted key statistics that reflect the aspirations of the Gambian people for constitutional reform.

Seven in ten Gambians (71%) believe the country needs a new constitution, while 24% do not, according to the Afrobarometer survey. Despite this high support, only 29% of respondents believe the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) is committed to a new constitution, while 34% say the same about the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).

Sete Mati said two-thirds of respondents (67%) agreed or strongly agreed that the rejected 2020 constitution should be submitted to the National Assembly for revision.

Conversely, only 29% thought it would be reasonable for the General Assembly to reject the 2020 draft.

Additionally, 86% of Gambians still support a two-term presidential term limit – something notably absent from the current 1997 constitution. Support for such term limits has remained high since 2018.

On August 14, the government took an important step by announcing the publication of The Gambia’s 2024 Constitution, signaling its renewed commitment to establishing a new constitutional framework for the country.

The event also discussed the implications of the survey findings with policymakers, civil society organizations, academics and the public. Afrobarometer is a trusted, pan-African, non-partisan survey initiative that amplifies the voices of ordinary citizens on key issues such as democracy, governance and socio-economic conditions. In The Gambia, the survey was conducted by CRPD, using face-to-face interviews in the respondents’ preferred language, ensuring the findings accurately reflect national sentiment.

The findings could influence the ongoing debate on shaping the future of Gambia’s democracy as discussions on constitutional reform gain momentum.