By Haddy Touray
President Adama Barrow has received a pre-election assessment delegation led by former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield as The Gambia prepares for its presidential election scheduled for Dec. 5, 2026.
The delegation also includes Professor Attahiru Jega, former chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), according to a statement from State House.
The meeting focused on the country’s electoral process, with President Barrow welcoming the delegation and assuring its members of his support for peaceful, credible and transparent elections.
Thomas-Greenfield thanked President Barrow for receiving the delegation and described their discussions on the electoral process as “extraordinarily fruitful.”
The visit forms part of a pre-election assessment mission by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which is conducting engagements in The Gambia from Aug. 24 to 28 ahead of the December presidential election.
The mission, co-led by Thomas-Greenfield and Jega, is expected to engage electoral stakeholders to assess the political and electoral environment in accordance with international principles for election observation.
As part of the assessment, the delegation is expected to meet representatives of opposition political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to gather views on preparations for the poll.
The presidential election is scheduled for Dec. 5, 2026, according to the Independent Electoral Commission.
The assessment comes as political parties and other electoral stakeholders intensify preparations for the election, with increasing attention on the credibility, transparency and inclusiveness of the electoral process.
The quality of an election depends not only on voting day but also on the broader environment leading up to the poll, including voter confidence, political participation, institutional independence, freedom of expression and assembly, peaceful campaigning and the conduct of security institutions.
President Barrow’s commitment to peaceful, credible and transparent elections will therefore require practical measures to ensure a level playing field for all political actors.
The delegation’s planned engagements with opposition parties and civil society organisations are also expected to provide a broader assessment of the electoral environment beyond government perspectives.
The findings of the mission could contribute to recommendations aimed at strengthening public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the December poll.
The 2026 presidential election will represent another important test of The Gambia’s democratic consolidation following the country’s political transition in recent years.
Political parties, the electoral commission, security institutions, the judiciary, civil society, the media and citizens all have a role to play in ensuring a peaceful election and resolving any disputes through established legal mechanisms.
The assessment mission is expected to conclude its engagements on Aug. 28.