JOINT PRE-ELECTORAL FACT-FINDING MISSION CONTINUES CONSULTATIONS WITH ELECTION STAKEHOLDERS IN THE GAMBIA
"The joint pre-election fact-finding mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) is continuing its consultations with Gambian electoral actors and political stakeholders with a view to supporting the holding of free, credible, inclusive and peaceful elections. […]"
The joint pre-election fact-finding mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) is continuing its consultations with Gambian electoral actors and political stakeholders.
This is with a view to supporting the holding of free, credible, inclusive and peaceful elections.
Following working sessions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of The Gambia, the delegation continued its consultations on Tuesday, 16th June 2026, in Banjul.
The mission met with Ms Mandisa Mashologu, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in The Gambia.
Discussions focused on UNDP’s initiatives to strengthen the capacities of Gambian electoral institutions, particularly the technical support provided to implement recommendations from observation missions during the 2021 presidential election, as well as the challenges encountered.
The delegation then held talks with Mr Emmanuel Daniel Joof, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), to assess the state of fundamental rights and freedoms.
They also discussed the pre-election political and social climate, and the mechanisms put in place to prevent and address human rights violations that could affect the credibility and peaceful conduct of the electoral process.
The mission later met with the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), chaired by Mr Momodou A. Sise, to discuss initiatives undertaken in the field of civic education for voters.
They reviewed the realities on the ground and the main challenges encountered in raising public awareness.
The joint mission further held a working session with the delegation from the European Union’s pre-electoral mission deployed in Banjul.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange observations and findings since their arrival in The Gambia, with a view to improving coordination of support and information sharing.
The pre-election mission will continue its consultations and observations with the Gambian authorities, civil society organisations, and technical and financial partners.
This is with a view to contributing to a transparent, inclusive and peaceful electoral environment.
Deep Analysis
AI Intelligence
Automated insights generated by DeepSeek-V3 based on the article content.
Key Impact
- The joint ECOWAS, AU and UNOWAS mission signals strong international commitment to free and credible elections in The Gambia.
- Consultations with key institutions like the IEC and NHRC aim to address potential human rights violations that could undermine electoral peace.
- Support from UNDP and EU strengthens Gambian electoral institutions through technical assistance and coordination.
- Civic education efforts by the NCCE are critical for voter awareness and inclusive participation in the upcoming elections.
Background
- This joint pre-electoral fact-finding mission involves ECOWAS, the African Union and UNOWAS, building on past election observation in The Gambia.
- Meetings with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) focus on implementing recommendations from the 2021 presidential election.
- Discussions with UNDP highlight ongoing technical support to improve electoral processes and address challenges from previous polls.
- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) assesses the pre-election climate to prevent human rights violations that could affect credibility.
Benefits
- Coordination between international bodies like ECOWAS, AU and UNOWAS ensures a unified approach to supporting The Gambia's elections.
- Technical support from UNDP helps Gambian electoral institutions build capacity for fair and transparent elections.
- Engagement with the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) boosts voter education and public awareness across The Gambia.
- Collaboration with the EU pre-electoral mission improves information sharing and observation to enhance electoral integrity.
Risks & Warnings
- Human rights violations, if not addressed by the NHRC, could erode public trust and lead to post-election tensions in The Gambia.
- Challenges in implementing previous election recommendations may repeat without sustained technical and financial support.
- Limited civic education reach in rural areas of The Gambia could disenfranchise some voters and affect election inclusivity.
- Coordination gaps among international and local stakeholders might weaken the effectiveness of peace-building efforts.
Who Is Affected
- Gambian voters benefit from improved electoral processes and civic education leading up to the polls.
- The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) receives technical assistance to enhance its operational capacity.
- Civil society organisations and human rights groups gain support to monitor and prevent violations during the electoral cycle.
- Political parties and candidates are impacted by efforts to ensure a transparent and peaceful election environment in The Gambia.
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