Bridging the Gap: Diaspora Voting Rights and the Urgency of Constitutional Reform in The Gambia. Political Will Lacking for Diaspora Voting Rights, Yet Demonstrated in 2017 for the Upper Age Limit Amendment Favoring Darboe and Tambajang-Jallow.
Alagi Yorro Jallow
Part 1
Fatoumatta: The proper to vote is a cornerstone of democracy, a elementary expression of citizenship that ought to be accessible to all, together with Gambians within the diaspora. In 2021, The Gambia Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling affirming the voting rights of diaspora Gambians and directed the federal government and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to take quick steps to register them. This resolution was a victory for inclusivity and democracy, but it stays unfulfilled. Since the ruling, no significant motion has been taken to deal with the constitutional hurdles or implement the mandatory modifications to make sure diaspora voting rights. This inaction is a obtrusive oversight that undermines the ideas of justice and equality.
The lack of urgency in addressing diaspora voting rights is especially troubling when contrasted with the swift constitutional modification in 2017 to take away the higher age restrict for public workplace holders. That modification, enacted to accommodate key political figures like Vice President Fatoumatta Tambajang Jallow and Ousainou Darboe, was prioritized and executed with outstanding velocity. This disparity raises important questions concerning the authorities’s dedication to democratic ideas. Why was the higher age restrict modification expedited, whereas the Supreme Court’s directive on diaspora voting rights has been ignored?
Yesterday, the rejection of the Diaspora Voting Rights Bill underneath the pretext of constitutional constraints additional highlights this inconsistency. The authorities argues that the diaspora will not be formally acknowledged as a constituency underneath Gambian regulation, but this justification rings hole when in comparison with the proactive measures taken for different political pursuits. The selective urgency in addressing constitutional issues displays a troubling sample of prioritizing political comfort over inclusivity and equity.
The diaspora neighborhood is an integral a part of The Gambia’s socio-economic cloth, contributing considerably by means of remittances and investments. Their exclusion from the electoral course of isn’t just a authorized failure however an ethical one. Respecting the Supreme Court’s ruling and addressing the constitutional obstacles to move the Election Bill for diaspora voting rights ought to have been a precedence since 2021. The authorities and IEC should display the identical resolve and urgency they confirmed in amending the higher age restrict. Anything much less is a disservice to the ideas of democracy and a betrayal of the belief positioned in them by the Gambian folks.
The Supreme Court ruling from 2021 ought to have been a turning level. Respecting that call and addressing the constitutional hurdles to move the Election Bill for diaspora voting rights would have demonstrated a real dedication to inclusivity and democracy. The delay not solely undermines the court docket’s authority but additionally disenfranchises an important section of Gambians who contribute considerably to the nation.
It’s irritating to see how swiftly some constitutional amendments, just like the higher age restrict, had been prioritized whereas diaspora voting rights stay in limbo. This selective urgency speaks volumes about political priorities. Bridging this hole requires not simply authorized motion but additionally political will and public stress to make sure that all Gambians, no matter location, have a voice in shaping the nation’s future.
Fatoumatta: The time for motion is now. The authorities should rise above political expediency and honor its dedication to inclusivity and equality. Ensuring diaspora voting rights isn’t just about fulfilling a authorized obligation—it’s about strengthening the democratic basis of The Gambia and giving each citizen, no matter location, a voice in shaping the nation’s future.