The Civic Scribe: Articles & Poems

Eight years ago, The Gambia celebrated what seemed to be a democratic miracle. After more than two decades of dictatorship under Yahya Jammeh, citizens voted him out and ushered in President Adama Barrow on promises of reform and renewal. Today, that miracle is in peril, undermined by the very leader who embodied it. The Gambia’s democratic transition is being systematically dismantled—and the world, which cheered so loudly in 2017, is now largely silent as the country slides back toward autocracy.

The signs of democratic backsliding are everywhere. From the calculated derailment of constitutional reform to the weaponization of electoral systems and the assault on independent institutions, President Barrow has revealed his true ambition: to consolidate power at any cost. The recent police invasion of the National Audit Office—an institution vital to fighting corruption—speaks volumes about this administration’s contempt for accountability. This is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern threatening to reverse the hard-won gains since Jammeh’s ouster.

The most damning evidence of Barrow’s betrayal lies in the fate of The Gambia’s constitutional reform process. Upon taking office, Barrow promised a new constitution to replace the one Jammeh manipulated to entrench his power. A costly, nationwide consultation produced a draft constitution that represented a true blueprint for democratic renewal. It included strict presidential term limits, parliamentary oversight of key appointments, a fair electoral system, and expanded rights for citizens.

This draft enjoyed overwhelming public support. Yet it was Barrow’s allies in parliament who ultimately killed it. Why? Because it would have limited Barrow’s own power.

Instead of accepting democratic constraints, Barrow’s government crafted a self-serving alternative that exempts sitting presidents from term limits, strips parliamentary oversight, reduces education rights, and grants the president power to appoint key officials. Most alarmingly, it removed crucial accountability mechanisms designed to prevent another dictatorship.

Though this document was recently rejected by the National Assembly, the damage was done. The Gambia remains trapped with Jammeh’s constitution, and Barrow has shown his preference for preserving executive dominance over democratic progress.

Simultaneously, Barrow’s government has engineered electoral changes that undermine the fairness of future votes. Parliament erased guarantees of diaspora voting rights, effectively disenfranchising tens of thousands of citizens abroad whose remittances fuel a significant portion of The Gambia’s economy. Now these citizens must spend exorbitant sums to travel home simply to vote—a calculated move that reveals the government’s fear of an informed electorate.

Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral Commission, which should be the guardian of electoral integrity, remains under executive influence. Commissioners are handpicked by the president, and the commission’s credibility suffers when its chairman publicly accompanies the sitting president to cast his ballot.

The government has also raised nomination deposits to prohibitive levels, creating what opposition parties rightly call a “plutocracy” where only the wealthy can govern. Democracy cannot live in bank accounts; it must live in the voices of all Gambians.

The recent invasion of the National Audit Office exemplifies the executive overreach that now threatens every independent institution. After the president removed the Auditor General, police executed an unlawful order to force him from his office. This act—a direct stab in the heart of democracy—signals that no institution is safe from political interference.

The Gambia’s transitional justice process, once a beacon of hope, has been slow-walked to the point of crisis. The Truth Commission completed its work documenting the horrors of Jammeh’s regime and recommending prosecutions and reparations, yet implementation has been slow and inconsistent. Victims continue to suffer while justice is delayed, undermining public trust and raising fears that impunity may again become normalized.

The regional implications are profound. As neighboring Sahel states succumb to coups and authoritarian rule, The Gambia—Africa’s smallest nation—had offered proof that ballots could defeat bullets. International partners funded its transition, trusting Barrow’s promises. Now, disillusionment sets in. Should The Gambia backslide, it could strengthen authoritarian forces across the region and jeopardize foreign aid tied to governance reforms.

The Gambia stands at a crossroads. To salvage its democratic transition, several steps are essential: resurrecting the people-driven constitution through a transparent process; insulating electoral systems from political interference; restoring the independence of public institutions; accelerating justice for victims of the previous regime; and ensuring international partners support genuine democratic reform rather than rubber-stamp executive actions.

The Gambia’s struggle is not its alone. It is a test case for whether democratic transitions can survive after dictators fall. President Barrow’s betrayal warns that without vigilance, today’s liberators can become tomorrow’s autocrats.

Gambians deserve better than a false choice between Barrow’s self-serving charter and a dictator’s constitution. They deserve the democracy they fought for, the democracy they were promised. The world once cheered for The Gambia. Now it must act to protect it. Democracy is never finished—it is always a work in progress. For The Gambia, that work is now more urgent than ever.