The National Democratic Institute (NDI) will send a pre-election assessment mission to The Gambia from August 24 to 28, as the country prepares for its presidential election in December 2026.
The delegation will meet with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), political parties, citizen observers and other stakeholders to gather information on electoral preparations and hear local perspectives. At the conclusion of the visit, the team will issue a public statement outlining its findings.
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Professor Attahiru Jega, former chairperson of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, co-lead the mission. Other members include Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, NDI Senior Associate for Africa and Special Advisor to the President, and Dr. Sophia Moestrup, NDI Deputy Director for Central and West Africa.
“The 2026 election will be pivotal in The Gambia’s democratic trajectory. Many Gambians hope that all electoral stakeholders will ensure the upcoming election consolidates democratic progress in a country now recognized as one of Africa’s more stable democracies,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
Professor Jega emphasized the importance of credibility: “Transparent, inclusive, and peaceful elections are vital to building Gambians’ trust in their government and leaders. With this pre-election assessment mission, we aim to offer actionable recommendations that bolster the conduct of the polls and further the democratic development of The Gambia.”
Dr. Fomunyoh added that the team looks forward to engaging key stakeholders “to help ensure that the upcoming presidential election truly reflects the aspirations of citizens.” He noted NDI’s pride in supporting The Gambia’s efforts to safeguard elections and democratic institutions.
Over four decades, NDI has conducted more than 250 international election observation missions across 70 countries.
The Gambia mission will operate in accordance with Gambian law and the 2005 Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, endorsed by 65 organizations including the African Union and ECOWAS. Activities will remain strictly impartial and nonpartisan, without interference in the electoral process.
The National Endowment for Democracy supports the mission.
