Gambian constitutional referendum, 1996

The Gambia

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A constitutional referendum was held in the Gambia on 8 August 1996. The new constitution was passed, with voter turnout of 86.9%.

Background

Elected president Dawda Jawara was overthrown in a military coup led by Yahya Jammeh on 22 July 1994. Following the coup, Jammeh ruled Gambia by decree as head of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council, with all political activity banned.^[1] He promised a return to civilian rule within four years, and a constitution was drawn up following a controversial consultation process.^[1]

The new constitution allowed for multiparty elections, an unlimited number of five year presidential terms and lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

The referendum was organised by the Provisional Independent Electoral Commission, with 441,732 voters registered.

Results

Choice	Votes	%
For	270,093	70.36
Against	113,744	29.64
Invalid/blank votes	38	–
Total	383,875	100
Registered voters/turnout	441,732	86.90
Source: Direct Democracy

Aftermath

Presidential elections were held in August 1996, which were won by Jammeh (despite him denying that he would stand until shortly before the election). In January 1997 parliamentary elections were held and won by Jammeh's Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction.

References

1 2 Country Profile: The Gambia Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Elections and referendums in the Gambia

Presidential elections	1982 1987 1992 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016

Parliamentary elections	1947 1951 1954 1960 1962 1966 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012

Referendums	1965 1970 1996

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