The Gambia’s long-awaited Election Bill 2025 has finally passed in the National Assembly, but for Gambians living abroad, the news brings little relief. Their right to vote from overseas remains denied, leaving hundreds of thousands with no voice in shaping their country’s future.
Adopted during the Third Ordinary Session of the 2025 Legislative Year, the bill replaces the outdated 1996 election decree from the former regime. It introduces sweeping changes, including doubling political party registration fees from D1 million to D2 million and increasing presidential nomination fees from D10,000 to D1 million.
Yet it was the question of diaspora voting that dominated debate. Serrekunda lawmaker Musa Cham, backed by Modou Lamin B. Bah of Banjul North, made a final push to extend voting rights to Gambians abroad. Their motion fell short, leaving the diaspora disenfranchised once again.
“This means Gambians abroad must either fly home to cast their ballot or accept they have no say in choosing the country’s leaders,” Banjul North MP said. The decision has drawn criticism from lawmakers who highlighted the diaspora contributions to the country’s economy.
The Gambia Bureau of Statistics recent survey shows that 200,000 to 250,000 Gambians live overseas, primarily in Europe, the United States, and parts of Africa such as Senegal and Nigeria.
“This means Gambians abroad must either fly home to cast their ballot or accept they have no say in choosing the country’s leaders,”
Modou Lamin B. Bah, Banjul North MP .
According to the World Bank and the Central Bank of The Gambia, remittances from Gambians abroad account for 20–22% of national GDP, one of the country’s largest sources of foreign exchange. In 2023 alone, they sent home over US $700 million (approximately D45 billion), supporting families, education, health care, and local businesses.
Alongside the Election Bill, the National Assembly also passed the Personal Data Protection and Privacy Bill 2025, aimed at safeguarding citizens’ personal information in an increasingly digital age.
For Gambians living abroad, however, the legislative session ended on a bitter note: despite their enormous contributions to the country, their voices remain locked out of the ballot box.
Photo: Minister of Justice of the Gambia in Parliament
