The Gambia government has sought support from International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) to conduct a dialogue on consensus-building process on peaceful elections among the various political parties and electoral stakeholders in The Gambia.
“The Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Justice has requested International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) based on its global comparative expertise on interparty dialogue, electoral processes, and its experience in supporting the ongoing Gambian transition to conduct a dialogue on consensus-building process on peaceful elections among the various political parties and electoral stakeholders in The Gambia,’ the Ministry of Justice said in a statement.
“In this vein, the Ministry of Justice wishes to inform the public that the International IDEA has commenced a new dialogue on 13th September 2021 to support peaceful presidential elections in The Gambia.
“The main objective of the dialogue is to promote and build a political consensus among political party leaders, CSOs, the media, the IEC, security forces, traditional rulers, and faith-based organisations on the need for a peaceful electoral campaign, peaceful voting and peaceful electoral dispute resolution for the 2021 presidential and 2022 legislative elections in The Gambia,” the statement added.
“The dialogue will include the political parties and political party leaders on the following topics: Peaceful conduct of electoral campaign; Peaceful conduct of voting and peaceful resolution of electoral dispute; and Peaceful post-election phase. The dialogue sessions will be facilitated by H.E. Mohamed IBN Chambas, former Special Representative of the United Nations Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel and assisted by two prominent Gambians, Mr Ousman Yabo and Mrs Elizabeth Y. Renner.
During these sessions, meetings will be held with the Political Party Leaders, Civil Society Organisations, The Independent Electoral Commission, The Parliament, the Media, Traditional and Religious Leaders and the Security Forces among others.
