Gambia Names Five Candidates for December Presidential Election

The Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission has officially announced five candidates for the country’s presidential election scheduled for December 5.

The list includes incumbent President Adama Barrow, who is seeking a third term despite earlier expectations that he would step aside after two terms.

Campaigning is expected to begin next Monday, with the West African country preparing for another closely watched election.

Other candidates include main opposition leader Ousainou Darboe and popular youth politician Talib Ahmed Bensouda, alongside Isatou Touray and Modou Lamin Sima.

The electoral commission received 18 presidential nomination requests and spent about a week and a half reviewing candidates’ documents before announcing the approved list on Thursday. It was not immediately clear whether additional candidates could still be announced.

Barrow seeks third term

President Barrow, who leads the National People’s Party (NPP), is seeking another term in office.

Although the country’s 1997 Constitution allows presidents to serve beyond two terms, many Gambians had expected Barrow to support constitutional changes introducing presidential term limits.

After his election victory in 2016, there were widespread expectations that the country would adopt a new constitution. However, lawmakers have twice rejected draft constitutions that would have introduced term limits.

Barrow came to power in 2016 after defeating longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh, ending Jammeh’s 22-year rule.

Jammeh, who has lived in exile in Equatorial Guinea since 2017, continues to have supporters in The Gambia and remains involved in the country’s political discussions.

Opposition candidates enter the race

Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party and a former vice president, is seeking the presidency for the fifth time. He has finished as runner-up in each of his previous attempts.

Another prominent contender is Talib Ahmed Bensouda, who has attracted considerable support among young voters.

Bensouda previously belonged to the UDP before establishing his own party, Unite, last year. He recently resigned as mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council to focus on his presidential campaign.

His popularity has grown amid public frustration over prolonged electricity blackouts that began in June and triggered protests calling for Barrow to step down.

However, Bensouda’s political ambitions faced uncertainty after a government report filed in late October recommended his removal as mayor and accused him of financial impropriety.

His party dismissed the report as a political manoeuvre. The allegations had raised questions about whether he would be allowed to contest the election.

His inclusion on the official candidate list means he has been cleared through the current nomination process.

First woman among presidential candidates

The remaining candidates are Isatou Touray, a physician who becomes the first woman to be nominated for a presidential election in The Gambia, and Modou Lamin Sima, representing the Alliance of Progressive Citizens (APC).

The December 5 election will determine whether Barrow secures another term or the opposition succeeds in ending his presidency.