By: Binta Jaiteh
The Gambia Environmental Alliance (GEA) has criticized Gambian government for being silent on United Nations Climate Change Vote and its decision to abstain from the climate change vote.
The vote endorses the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on climate change and human rights.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the alliance described the abstention as a betrayal of vulnerable Gambians already facing the effects of climate change.
According to the organization, The Gambia was among 28 countries that abstained during the vote held on 20 May 2026, while 141 countries voted in favour of the resolution and eight voted against it.
The alliance said the ICJ advisory opinion represented a major step towards strengthening global climate accountability by affirming the legal obligation of states to prevent environmental harm and protect present and future generations.
Secretary General Muhammed Hydara described the government’s silence on the issue as “unconscionable” for a country considered among the most climate-vulnerable in the region.
The statement pointed to coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, loss of fertile farmland and increasing pressure on fishing communities as evidence of the growing impact of climate change on livelihoods in The Gambia.
Hydara also rejected suggestions that the abstention reflected a common African position, noting that countries including Kenya, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso played leading roles in drafting the resolution, while several African states supported the ICJ process.
The alliance called on the government to clarify who authorized the abstention and whether the cabinet or National Assembly had been consulted before the decision was taken.
It also urged civil society organizations, the media and community leaders to demand transparency, stressing that climate justice is closely linked to the future and survival of millions of Gambians.
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