The Gambian lawmakers have rejected a draft constitution, with opposition leaders criticising the document for failing to include important stakeholders.
The draft, intended to replace the 1997 constitution, fell short of the necessary three-quarters majority in the National Assembly, with only 35 out of 56 members voting in favour.
Justice Minister and Attorney General Dawda Jallow had urged lawmakers to support the bill, hoping for a “stronger, more democratic republic that serves all our people with justice and dignity.”
However, opposition lawmakers argued that the drafters had not taken into account the viewpoints of various stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organisations.
The rejected draft was the second attempt at creating a new constitution. The first draft, published in 2019, was rejected in 2020 due to a retroactive clause imposing two-term presidential limits.
The current draft removed this clause, which would have allowed President Adama Barrow to serve two further terms after the new constitution came into force.
If passed, the draft would have still required a referendum before becoming law. The rejection of the draft constitution highlights the challenges in reforming
The Gambia’s constitutional framework, which has been shaped by the country’s complex history, including the 22-year rule of former President Yahya Jammeh marked by significant rights abuses.