The Gambia’s justice minister defended a new draft constitution on Wednesday, aimed at strengthening the country after years of dictatorship, with plans for a vote next year. This draft seeks to replace the 1997 constitution, which allowed former dictator Yahya Jammeh to maintain power following a 1994 coup.
The Constitutional Review Commission, established in June 2018, released its first draft in November 2019. However, lawmakers allied with current President Adama Barrow rejected it in 2020 due to a retroactive clause that imposed two-term limits on the presidency. The new draft, created four years later, removes this clause, allowing Barrow, who has been in power since 2017, to potentially serve two additional terms once the constitution is enacted.
The draft must pass through parliament and a referendum before approval. Justice Minister and Attorney General Dawda Jallow stated at a press conference, “We regret that we won’t be able to meet our timeline, but we are committed; the Constitution should be in place sometime in 2025 if it sails through all the processes.”
Jammeh’s 22-year rule was marked by significant human rights abuses and the misappropriation of state funds for personal use, according to the new government and rights groups. He fled in 2017 after losing an election to Barrow, then a relatively unknown figure.