By JarranewsTV Staff Reporter
When Adama Barrow took office in January 2017, The Gambia was emerging from one of the darkest chapters in its post-independence history. Two decades of authoritarian rule had left state institutions weakened, civil liberties crushed, journalists silenced, and political opposition criminalised. The task before the new administration was not routine governance, but national democratic reconstruction.
Nearly a decade on, recent international governance rankings provide an opportunity to assess how far the country has come—and whether it is being judged fairly.
According to the 2026 World Economics Governance Index, as reported by Business Insider Africa, The Gambia is ranked the 10th best-governed country in Africa and 74th globally, with an overall score of 47.6 out of 100. The index evaluates governance across corruption control, rule of law, press freedom, and political rights.
For a country that, prior to 2017, was synonymous with repression and fear, this ranking represents a significant turnaround.
Reopening Political and Media Space
One of the most notable achievements of the Barrow administration has been the restoration of political freedom and media independence. Today, The Gambia has:
No political prisoners
No journalists in detention
A vibrant and critical media landscape
Opposition parties operating without intimidation.
These realities stand in sharp contrast to the pre-2017 era, when journalists fled the country, media houses were shut down, and political dissent often ended in detention or exile.
This progress is reflected in the index, where The Gambia scored 65.4 in press freedom and 54.8 in political rights, placing it among Africa’s more open political systems.
Governance Challenges Within an Open System
The report also highlights areas requiring further reform. Scores for rule of law (38.5) and corruption control (31.6) remain modest. However, analysts note that these challenges are being addressed within a democratic environment where citizens, civil society, and the media are free to question and criticise government action—an essential condition for long-term institutional strengthening.
Comparing The Gambia and Senegal
Neighbouring Senegal ranked higher on the index, placing 7th in Africa and 63rd globally, with a composite score of 54.0. Senegal recorded stronger results in political rights (73.8) and press freedom (57.6), though it also faces institutional weaknesses, particularly in rule of law (41.1).
Yet this comparison raises important questions.
Despite its higher numerical ranking, Senegal continues to witness the arrest, detention, and prosecution of political opponents, as well as the incarceration of journalists—a reality that sharply contrasts with the current situation in The Gambia, where no journalist or opposition figure is imprisoned for political reasons.
A Question of Fair Assessment
Under President Barrow, The Gambia has consolidated a political culture defined by freedom of expression, tolerance of dissent, and competitive politics. While governance reforms remain a work in progress, the country’s record on fundamental freedoms stands out in the sub-region.
This leads to a crucial question: Is The Gambia being fairly judged when compared to Senegal on political freedom and media freedom, given that The Gambia has no political prisoners and no jailed journalists, while Senegal does?
As governance indices continue to shape international perceptions, the Gambian case suggests that democratic reality on the ground should weigh as heavily as numerical scores. For many observers, The Gambia’s post-2017 journey under President Barrow remains one of West Africa’s most compelling democratic recoveries.
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