In a strongly worded public declaration, the Never Again Network has firmly rejected President Adama Barrow’s bid for a third term in the 2026 elections, warning that it threatens the fragile democratic gains made since the end of Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year dictatorship. The group also vehemently opposed the government’s proposed media regulations, describing them as an unjustified assault on freedom of expression.
The statement, released amid growing national debate over Barrow’s intentions, marks a significant escalation in opposition to the president’s political plans. Barrow, who first came to power in 2017 as the consensus candidate of a broad opposition coalition that ousted Jammeh, has confirmed his intention to seek re-election for a third five-year term in December 2026. Critics argue this move breaks earlier promises and risks replicating the authoritarian patterns of the past.
The Never Again Network, a civil society organization dedicated to preventing a return to dictatorial rule—echoing the slogan “Never Again” in reference to Jammeh’s era—outlined multiple reasons for its opposition. Foremost among them is the perceived threat to long-term peace, security, and stability in The Gambia. “If he runs for a third term and wins, he is likely to seek a fourth, fifth, and even sixth term,” the statement read. “In the long run, his overstaying in power will inevitably cause insecurity and strife in this country.”
The group highlighted Barrow’s breach of the 2016 coalition agreement, under which he was selected as a transitional leader expected to serve only three years before fresh elections. Although the 1997 constitution permitted him to seek re-election, the Network emphasized that democratic governance relies not just on legal technicalities but on norms, integrity, and respect for political commitments. “Human trust is sacred and must be safeguarded,” it asserted, accusing Barrow of prioritizing personal power over the coalition’s mandate and the nation’s interests.
Adding to the criticism, the Network pointed to Barrow’s past public support for term limits. He had previously endorsed entrenching them in the constitution, acknowledging that leaders who overstay “run out of ideas.” The statement questioned why Barrow now believes it is acceptable to break such promises simply because constitutional provisions allow it. “The president’s personal desire to stay in power simply because he can, and simply because power is sweet, should not negate the supreme interests of this country,” it declared.
Drawing direct parallels with the Jammeh era, the Never Again Network recalled how the former dictator initially promised a short transition, set up consultative committees that recommended term limits, but later removed those provisions from the 1997 constitution and amended it repeatedly to entrench his rule. “By seeking a third term in office, Barrow is playing Jammeh politics,” the group warned. “The person elected to replace Jammeh should not play by the ousted dictator’s book.”
While acknowledging some achievements under Barrow’s administration and not questioning his personal capacity, the Network insisted that no leader is indispensable. “If Barrow can do it, another person can do it as well as he is, or even better,” it stated, rejecting the notion—attributed to past leaders like Dawda Jawara and Jammeh—that only one individual is capable of leading. The group urged Barrow to step aside to consolidate democracy rather than risk grooming “another sit-tight president.”
In the same declaration, the Never Again Network issued a resounding rejection of the government’s draft media regulations, including proposals for national press accreditation policies and controls over broadcasting and online content. These measures, advanced by the Ministry of Information in 2025, have drawn criticism from journalists and press unions for potentially reintroducing state licensing, empowering regulators to monitor and remove online content, and imposing restrictions that could stifle expression.
“There is absolutely no rational justification to police the Gambian people’s freedom of expression,” the statement said. “The government can choose to take action against any journalist who breaks the law. But until then, let our thoughts flow! Do not shackle our national imagination!” It called for a free marketplace of ideas and warned that only “backward and repressive regimes muzzle their citizens’ freedom of expression.” The Network appealed to Barrow to abandon the plans and urged the international community to oppose what it termed “needless press and public censorship.”
Barrow’s third-term pursuit has polarized opinions. Recent polls suggest majority opposition, with many Gambians viewing it as a setback to post-Jammeh democratic progress.
