EUROPEAN UNION ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION FINAL REPORT The GAMBIA National Assembly Elections 6 April 2017 European Union Election Observation Missions are independent from the European Union institutions.The information and views set out in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. EU Election Observation Mission to The Gambia 2017 Final Report National Assembly Elections – 6 April 2017 Page 1 of 68 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................. 3 I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... 4 II. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 9 III. POLITICAL BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................. 9 IV. LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ELECTORAL SYSTEM ................................................................................. 11 A. Universal and Regional Principles and Commitments ............................................................................. 11 B. Electoral Legislation ................................................................................................................................ 11 C. The Electoral System ............................................................................................................................... 13 V. ELECTION ADMINISTRATION ............................................................................................................ 14 A. Structure and Composition ..................................................................................................................... 14 B. The Administration of Elections ............................................................................................................. 14 VI. DELIMITATION OF CONSTITUENCIES ................................................................................................ 15 VII. VOTER REGISTRATION ..................................................................................................................... 16 VIII. REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATE NOMINATION ........................................... 17 A. Registration of Political Parties ............................................................................................................... 17 B. Candidate Nomination ........................................................................................................................... 18 IX. CIVIC AND VOTER EDUCATION ......................................................................................................... 18 X. CAMPAIGN ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................. 19 XI. CAMPAIGN FINANCE ........................................................................................................................ 21 XII. MEDIA AND ELECTIONS .................................................................................................................... 22 A. Media Environment ................................................................................................................................ 22 B. Legal Framework for Media .................................................................................................................... 22 C. Legal Framework for Campaign Coverage .............................................................................................. 24 D. EU EOM Media Monitoring .................................................................................................................... 24 XIII. DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS .................................................................................. 26 XIV. PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN ............................................................................................................ 26 XV. PARTICIPATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ............................................................................. 27 XVI. ELECTORAL JUSTICE ......................................................................................................................... 28 A. Electoral Offences ................................................................................................................................... 28 B. Complaints and Appeals ......................................................................................................................... 28 C. Election Petitions .................................................................................................................................... 29 XVII. ELECTION DAY AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULTS ................................................................... 29 A. Opening and Voting ................................................................................................................................ 29 B. Counting and Tabulation ........................................................................................................................ 30 C. Announcement of Election Results ......................................................................................................... 30 XVIII. POST-ELECTION DAY DEVELOPMENTS ......................................................................................... 31 XIX. RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................................................... 34 ANNEX I Table of Recommendations ................................................................................................. 38 ANNEX II Election Results ................................................................................................................... 54 ANNEX III Media Monitoring Results ................................................................................................... 57 EU Election Observation Mission to The Gambia 2017 Final Report National Assembly Elections – 6 April 2017 Page 2 of 68 European Union Election Observation Missions are independent from the European Union institutions. The information and views set out in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. Report released: September 2017 Banjul, The Gambia EU Election Observation Mission to The Gambia 2017 Final Report National Assembly Elections – 6 April 2017 Page 3 of 68 LIST OF ACRONYMS ACDEG African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance ACHPR African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights APRC Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction AU African Union AU CPCC African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CRPD Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities DPFEA Declaration of Principles for Freedom of EXpression in Africa ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States ECOMIG ECOWAS Military Intervention in The Gambia EU EOM European Union Election Observation Mission GDC Gambia Democratic Congress GMC Gambia Moral Congress GMD Dalasi. (The Gambian monetary nomination) GPDP Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress IEC Independent Electoral Commission ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICCPR GC International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights General Comments MEP Member of the European Parliament MP Member of Parliament NA National Assembly NAM National Assembly Member NCP National Convention Party NRP National Reconciliation Party NTYTR Not Too Young To Run PDOIS People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism PPP People’s Progressive Party TTB Team Tahawal Banjul UDP United Democratic Party UDHR Universal Declaration of Human Rights UN CAC United Nations Convention against Corruption EU Election Observation Mission to The Gambia 2017 Final Report National Assembly Elections – 6 April 2017 Page 4 of 68 I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On 6 April 2017, The Gambia held its first National Assembly elections since the end of 22 years of authoritarian rule under President Yahya Jammeh. Following an invitation from the Government of The Gambia and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) was present in The Gambia from 13 March to 26 April 2017. The Mission was led by Chief Observer Miroslav Poche, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). In total, the EU EOM deployed 56 observers from 27 EU Member States, as well as from Norway and Switzerland, across the country to assess the entire electoral process in accordance with the international and regional obligations and commitments to genuine and transparent elections and the laws of The Gambia. The last National Assembly elections, held in 2012, were largely boycotted by the opposition. Prior to the 2016 presidential election, seven political parties