IEC Official Sounds Alarm Over Low Female Representation in Gambia’s Politics

  

By Madi S. Njie

A senior official of The Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has urged authorities, political parties and civil society to intensify efforts to ensure women and other marginalised groups are fully included in the country’s electoral system.

Mariama Jammeh, who oversees gender and disability matters at the IEC, made the appeal on 19 November 2025 during a UNDP-supported capacity-building forum held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre. Addressing participants at the workshop, she said that unequal access to political space continues to hold back democratic development.

In her presentation, she underlined that social expectations placed on men and women often determine who gets opportunities in public life and who is left behind. According to her, groups such as women, young people, persons with disabilities and economically disadvantaged communities still face significant obstacles when attempting to engage in politics.

Ms Jammeh pointed out a clear contradiction in the country’s voting patterns: although women make up most of the electorate, they remain largely absent from leadership positions. She disclosed that women accounted for more than half of registered voters in the past two national elections—53.5 per cent in 2016 and 57 per cent in 2021—yet none has ever stood as a presidential candidate in those contests. Representation in the National Assembly has also remained unchanged, with only three women elected in both the 2017 and 2022 parliaments. At local level, the situation is similarly bleak, with just one woman elected as mayor or council chairperson in both 2018 and 2023.

She warned that such imbalances weaken democracy and reduce the diversity of voices in decision-making. “Institutions should mirror the society they represent,” she said, noting that inclusion improves policymaking and supports national and international development goals.

To reverse the trend, she proposed a range of measures including the introduction of quotas, reforms within political parties, leadership mentoring for women, and nationwide education campaigns to raise awareness about voting rights and participation. She also stressed the need to confront long-standing cultural attitudes that discourage women from entering politics.

The workshop, organised with support from the United Nations Development Programme and coordinated by UNDP Governance Officer Ms Emi Leung, forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen democratic participation and ensure no group is excluded from the political process in The Gambia.