The Gambia Participates, Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice, and Election Watch Committee held a press conference on Wednesday, March 19, calling on Parliament to rescind their directives by reintroducing Clause 14 of the Election Bill.
The clause guaranteed Gambians in the diaspora the right to vote for their respective representatives without the burden of travelling to the country.
During the press conference, the chairperson of Gambia Participates, Salieu Taal, expressed shock at Parliament’s decision to omit such an important provision.
“Many of us were surprised to see that a very progressive provision, Clause 14, which ensures that the IEC takes necessary steps for Gambians living abroad to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to vote, was removed,” Mr Taal said.
He further stated that the removal of this clause has infringed on the legal rights of Gambians in the diaspora, saying it is inconsistent with both the constitution and the Supreme Court ruling.
He calls on the National Assembly to reintroduce the clause and to make adjustments to other parts of the clause where necessary.
The removal of Article 14 from the Election Bill has sparked widespread criticisms from concerned citizens, activists, civil society organizations, and members of the diaspora, who describe the move as unconstitutional and an infringement of their civil rights.
Meanwhile, Marr Nyang, the CEO of Gambia Participates, stated that Parliament’s decision “contradicts” the constitutionally mandated rights of Gambians in the diaspora.
“Removing Clause 14 violates their constitutional rights,” Mr Nyang pointed out. “By eliminating this clause, the National Assembly is directly violating Section 39 of the 1997 Constitution. Gambians living abroad, who have significantly contributed to the Gambia’s economic development, have been unjustly disenfranchised.”
He further warned that the decision has created a dangerous precedent where any Gambian who travels abroad could lose their voting rights.
Muhammed S. Bah, former president of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) and a civil rights advocate, lamented that Parliament’s decision to go against diaspora voting raises serious questions about transparent and balanced representation of Gambians outside the jurisdiction.
“Today, we are gathered here to address critical issues that strike at the heart of representation and fairness in our electoral process. Gambians in the diaspora are more than just citizens; they are the backbone of our economy. Despite their contributions to national development, their right to vote has been put into question,” Mr Bah stated.
He added that the decision taken by Parliament to restrict diaspora voting unless individuals incur the costly burden of travelling back home raises fundamental questions about their civil rights.
The removal of Article 14 from the Election Act by members of Parliament has been seen as a setback by members of civil society organizations, emphasised, saying: “Such decisions are deemed unconstitutional and inconsistent with the Supreme Court ruling on citizens’ rights to vote while absent.”
