The Gambia: National Assembly, 6 April 2017

At stake in this election:

• 53 seats in the National Assembly

Note on the results: *Only parties who were awarded seats are listed. One independent won a seat.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State:  President Adama BARROW (19 January 2017)
• Head of Government:  President Adama BARROW (19 January 2017)
• Assembly:  The Gambia has a unicameral National Assembly with 53 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The National Assembly consists of 58 seats, 53 of which are directly elected to 5 year terms and 5 which are appointed by the President. 

Last Election:

• The Alliance for Patriotic Re-Orientation and Construction won 43 of the 48 seats up for election in 2012. The remaining 5 seats were split among independent candidates and the National Reconciliation Party.

Main candidates in the election:

• Alliance for Patriotic Re-Orientation and Construction (APRC)
  • Leader: Alh. Dr. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH
  • Seats won in last election: 43 
• National Reconciliation Party (NRP)
  • Leader: Hamat BAH
  • Seats won in last election: 1
• United Democratic Party (UDP)
  • Leader: Ousainou A. N. M. DARBOE
  • Seats won in last election:  0
• Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP)
  • Leader: Sarja JARJOU
  • Seats won in last election:  0
• Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC)
  • Leader: Mama KANDEH
  • Seats won in last election: 0
• Gambia Moral Congress (GMC)
  • Leader: Barrister Mai N.K. FATTY
  • Seats won in last election: 0
• People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS)
  • Leader: Mr. Sidia JATTA
  • Seats won in last election:  0
• National Convention Party (NCP)
  • Leader: Badara SIDIBEH
  • Seats won in last election:  0
• People's Progressive Party (PPP)
  • Leader: Alh. Yaya CEESAY
  • Seats won in last election:  0

*9 political parties are registered with the Independent Electoral Commission, however only 2 were awarded seats in the last National Assembly elections.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population:  2,009,648 (July 2016)
• Registered Voters:  886,578 (2016)

Gender Data:

• Female Population:  1,016,590 (2016)
• Is the Gambia a signatory to CEDAW:  Yes (29 July 1980)
• Has the Gambia ratified CEDAW:  Yes (16 April 1993)
• Gender Quota:  No
• Female candidates in this election:  Yes
• Number of Female Parliamentarians:  5
• Human Development Index Position:  175 (2014)
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization:  Very High (2014)

Disability Data:

• Is the Gambia a signatory to CRPD:  No
• Has the Gambia ratified CRPD:  Yes, accession (6 July 2015)
• Population with a disability:  301,447[1]

[1] Calculated using the WHO estimate of 15%.