Commonwealth observers deployed in The Gambia

Members of the Commonwealth Observer Group for The Gambia were deployed across the country on 20 September 2006 ahead of the presidential election on 22 September.

It is the country’s third presidential election since 1996.

The Group, which is chaired by Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, former Prime Minister of Tanzania, has met representatives from the three political parties involved in this election, civil society groups, the Independent Electoral Commission, and other local and international observers, as well as members of the diplomatic corps based in The Gambia.

Dr Salim told the media on 18 September that the Group would act impartially and independently.

“We have come here with an open mind. We shall be objective and impartial in our participation here,” he said.

“Our presence is intended to demonstrate the commitment of the Commonwealth to the democratisation process in this country.”

The three political parties fielding candidates in this election are the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction, which is the ruling party of President Yahya Jammeh; Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress/United Democratic Party/National Reconciliation Party Alliance whose presidential candidate is Ousainou Darboe; and the National Alliance for Democracy and Development led by Halifa Sallah.

The Commonwealth has engaged with Gambian stakeholders in an effort to promote and strengthen democracy since the 2001 Presidential Election.

The Independent Electoral Commission says there are about 670,000 registered voters out of the country’s population of 1.36 million people.

CNIS - Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 303, 20 September 2006

Secretariat Links:

• Election Observation
• Country Profile: The Gambia
• Commonwealth Observer Group Arrival Statement