The ECOWAS Commission is set to deploy a pre-election fact-finding mission to Banjul, Republic of The Gambia, in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
The mission, coordinated through the ECOWAS Directorate of Political Affairs, is a high-level technical initiative led by the former Chairman of Ghana’s Electoral Commission, Mr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, alongside the ECOWAS Director of Political Affairs, Mr Babatunde Afolabi.
The African Union delegation is led by Mr Samuel Atuobi, while UNOWAS is represented by its Political Adviser, Ms Falmata Liman.
According to ECOWAS, the mission aims to assess the level of preparedness for The Gambia’s presidential election scheduled for 5 December 2026 and to identify initiatives that ECOWAS, the African Union and UNOWAS can implement to build confidence among stakeholders and support the conduct of free, transparent and credible elections.
The mission will examine the legal, constitutional and institutional framework governing The Gambia’s electoral process. It will also assess the dynamics of political engagement among institutions and political actors, as well as identify potential risks and early warning signs that could affect the electoral process.
The fact-finding mission forms part of ECOWAS’ ongoing efforts to promote democratic governance, electoral integrity and political stability across the West African region.
