Introduction
Presidential term limits have become a contentious issue across West Africa, with a smaller number of countries struggling to enforce them. The Gambia has faced challenges in legislating term limits despite regional and domestic pressure.
The Gambia’s constitution has not had a clearly defined presidential term limit for decades, after former President Yahya Jammeh transitioned from a coup leader in 1994 to a democratically elected leader from 1996 to 2017.
Barrow’s 2016 promise: A one-term presidency
The precedent became a campaign message for Adama Barrow before his election in 2016, promising to serve only one term.
This promise was seen as a commitment to democratic renewal and accountable leadership in The Gambia, as former President Jammeh, who was the second president after founding President Sir Dawda Jawara, could not give the country a presidential term limit; instead was forced into exile.
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The promise by President Barrow was not fulfilled after he contested and won the 2021 presidential election, with hopes of contesting in the 2026 election. However, President Barrow’s one-term pledge, it must be emphasised, was not legally binding under the 1997 constitution.
Chronicles of the Government Constitutional Review Process
Following Barrow’s victory in 2016, the new government of Adama Barrow initiated a constitutional review process for the 1997 Constitution to give the country a new supreme law, which needed a key component of introducing presidential term limits.
In December 2017, the Constitutional Review Commission Act, 2017 was passed and the CRC began its work in 2019. In that same year, a mass protest against the Barrow government dubbed #ThreeYearsJotna demanded that he fulfil the one-term promise and quit the presidency, which he did not.
The following year, a draft constitution proposed a two-term limit, capping presidential service at 10 years (5 years per term). This draft was seen as progressive and necessary to prevent leaders from overstaying in power.
However, the National Assembly rejected the document in September 2020, partly because it included retroactive application of term limits that would have barred Barrow from running again. The process failed at this final step due to political opposition and concerns about limiting Barrow’s eligibility.
Barrow breaks promise
Despite his initial pledge, Barrow declined to step down after his first term ended and instead formed a new party after the collapse of the coalition that brought him to power in 2016.
Through the new party, the National People’s Party (NPP), he stood for re-election in 2021. He justified this decision by citing the will of his supporters and the absence of term limits in the current constitution, which legally permits him to seek further terms.
His decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a betrayal of his promise and others accepting it as lawful under existing laws.
When FactSpace Gambia contacted the deputy government spokesperson on Barrow’s move, Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sakanu said: “The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and any other law, agreement or arrangement that is inconsistent with it is null and void.
“Our Gambian 1997 Constitution clearly stipulates that a Presidency who is duly elected shall serve a term of five years. The same constriction has not placed a cap on term limits.”
Ten Years in 2026, Barrow to Run Again
As President Barrow approaches a decade in power by 2026, he has declared intentions to run for a third term in the next presidential race.
In an interview on QTV’s State Of Affairs on January 30, 2025, he stated that his party (NPP) is too young to lose its leader, therefore he will be seeking a third term :
Host: 2026 election is fast approaching. Earlier on, you said you are a fan of term limits. Will President Barrow be seeking another term?
President Barrow: “Yes, it’s not about President Barrow, it is about my party. My party is a very young party, and I don’t want my party to die at the infant stage. The party is very very young and I don’t think we are that more organised to that level to afford losing their leader at this stage.
So that is why, as leader and general secretary of the party, my entire team feels that the party is too young for me to hand over the party.” (watch from 49 mins: 45 secs to 50 mins: 44 secs)
This has reignited debates about the need for term limits and the future of Gambian democracy.
Public opinion is divided, as many Gambians support term limits to prevent authoritarianism, while others back Barrow’s continued leadership. The political environment remains tense as the country awaits further constitutional reforms.
What Has Become of the Failed Constitutional Review Process?
The failed constitutional review process remains a significant obstacle to democratic consolidation in The Gambia. Experts argue that the inability to legislate term limits undermines efforts to prevent executive overreach and fosters political uncertainty.
Journalist Yusef Taylor has described the 10-year term limit proposal as progressive and essential for encouraging fresh leadership. However, political fragmentation and Barrow’s influence have stalled meaningful reform.
Sankanu, however, believes that President Barrow’s government is committed first and foremost to the rule of law and lawful processes. “The consolidation of democracy requires a holistic approach and cannot be narrowed down to a single factor of term limits.
“We have seen countries without term limits developing while countries with term limits are deadlocked in political bickering. The Gambian government is not against term limits and has been supporting the constitutional development process. What we need more is a change of mindset by putting national interest above personal or political bickering,” he told FactSpace Gambia.
On July 7, 2025, a second Constitutional Review Bill presented to the National Assembly was again rejected, implying that unless the reasons for the rejection are addressed and resubmitted for passage, Gambians will likely be voting in 2026 without a new Constitution.
“On 7 July 2025, National Assembly Members rejected the draft, and naturally, this will affect the initial plan of having a new constitution before the 2026 electoral cycle. The Ministry of Justice will come up with work on a new timeline accordingly,” the deputy government spokesman added.
President Barrow himself has pledged to continue working on constitutional reforms, including term limits, as part of his legacy, but concrete progress remains elusive. The challenge lies in balancing political interests and democratic principles to ensure sustainable governance.
Conclusion
The Gambia’s decade-long failure to legislate presidential term limits stems from political resistance, constitutional ambiguities, and Barrow’s shifting stance, reflecting broader regional struggles with executive term restrictions.
Researched by Nyima Sonko (a member of the FactSpace West Africa’s 2025 volunteers cohort). Nyima is from The Gambia.
