Republic of The Gambia: President, 1 December 2016

At stake in this election:

• The office of the President of The Gambia

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Yahya JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996)
• Head of Government: President Yahya JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996)
• Assembly: The Gambia has a unicameral National Assembly composed of 53 seats with members serving 5-year terms.

Description of electoral system:

• The president of The Gambia is directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term.

Last election:

• The last presidential election was held on 24 November 2011. Incumbent Yahya JAMMEH was reelected with 71.52% of the vote, defeating Ousainou DARBOE and Hamat BAH.

Main candidates in the election:

• Yahya JAMMEH
  • Party: Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC)
• Adama BARROW
  • Party: Opposition Coalition
• Mamma KANDEH
  • Party: Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC)

Note: For this election, seven of the eight opposition parties have formed a coalition and are supporting Adama BARROW. These parties are Gambia Moral Congress (GMC), Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP), National Convention Party (NCP), National Reconciliation Party (NRP), People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), People’s Progressive Party (PPP), and United Democratic Party (UDP).   

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 2,009,648 (July 2016 est.)

·         Registered Voters: 886,578 (2016)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 1,046,590 (July 2016 est.)

·         Is The Gambia a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (29 July 1980)

·         Has The Gambia ratified CEDAW: Yes (16 April 1993)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: No[1]

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 5 (9.43%)

·         Human Development Index Position: 175 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Very High (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is The Gambia a signatory to CRPD: No

·         Has The Gambia ratified CRPD: Yes, accession (6 July 2015)

·         Population with a disability: 301,447 (est.)