By Fatou Dahaba
Former ECOWAS diplomat and eminent statesman Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas on Thursday convened a high-level consultative dialogue in Banjul to forge consensus for peaceful, inclusive and credible elections ahead of The Gambia’s 5 December 2026 presidential poll.
The meeting, held at the African Princess Hotel, brought together civil society organizations, religious leaders, media representatives and other key stakeholders. It formed part of International IDEA’s preventive diplomacy mission under the project “Promoting Peaceful, Inclusive, and Credible Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in The Gambia.”
Dr. Chambas is leading the mission alongside three nationally respected Moral Guarantors: the President of the Supreme Islamic Council, Imam Essa Darboe; the Chairperson of the Christian Council, Bishop Bannie Ebenezer F. Manga; and senior civil society representative Fatou Jagne Senghore. Their presence underscored an effort to ground the electoral process in both institutional and moral authority.
Addressing participants, Dr. Chambas said the mission’s goal was to help create conditions for peaceful electoral competition and ensure that Gambians can vote freely, without fear, intimidation, or violence. He stressed that the country’s democratic gains must be protected and deepened, arguing that no political or partisan interest should override the national interest.
“At the end of the day, after all the politics is done, we want to have a Gambia that remains peaceful, stable, and where the people are at the center of all our concerns,” he said.
He explained that the consultations are expected to culminate in the signing of a Peace Pact by confirmed presidential candidates after the nomination process. The pact would contain a code of conduct to guide the behavior of candidates, political parties and their supporters before, during and after the election.
Religious leaders used the occasion to call for restraint and responsible conduct throughout the electoral season. Imam Darboe urged politicians and supporters to reject hate speech, insults and misinformation, saying both Islam and Christianity demand truth, respect and peace. Bishop Manga appealed to Gambians to protect the country’s peace and avoid spreading inflammatory content, especially on social media, where unverified claims can rapidly heighten tensions.
Participants, however, used the forum to raise concerns about growing political polarisation, the spread of hate speech and the lack of accountability for inflammatory rhetoric. Several speakers argued that while peace declarations and political commitments have been made in previous elections, violations often go unpunished. They warned that repeated breaches without consequence risk undermining public confidence in both the process and the institutions meant to oversee it.
Civil society representatives called for the proposed Peace Pact to include clear accountability mechanisms. They urged the government, political parties, the media and oversight institutions to act more decisively against divisive speech and electoral misconduct, rather than treating peace pledges as symbolic gestures that expire once campaigning intensifies.
The dialogue formed part of a broader series of consultations the mission has held with political parties, alliances, independent aspirants, the Independent Electoral Commission and state authorities since arriving in The Gambia. Those engagements are intended to identify potential flashpoints early and to encourage shared responsibility for a calm campaign period.
With presidential elections just over two months away and parliamentary polls due in April 2027, stakeholders at the meeting agreed that safeguarding peace, democratic credibility and public trust must remain a shared national responsibility. Organizers indicated that further consultations will continue in the weeks ahead as the nomination process approaches and the proposed Peace Pact takes clearer shape.
