Stalled Transitions: The Limits of Regional Support and Institutional Reform in The Gambia’s Democratic Consolidation

This study assesses the delayed democratic consolidation in The Gambia following the 2016 election impasse. Even though the Gambia received significant support from ECOWAS, progress in democratic governance has remained at best slow. A significant regression of civil liberties, institutional reforms, and political inclusion has been witnessed in many fronts of the country’s democracy. This study employs a qualitative case study to examine how institutional lapses and the role of elites weaken democratic consolidation in the Gambia. The study found that the democratic governance trajectory of the Gambia revealed troubling youth and gender underrepresentation. The study adapted a qualitative method used thematic content analysis as the main data analysis method revealed that anti-corruption efforts in the country have been weak, with limited or no enforcement powers to prosecute offenders. The finding tells a disconnect between normative aspirations of democracy and the empirical outcome. The study argues that external support to the Gambia’s democracy is not sufficient without greater political and institutional will from the government of the Gambia. The paper recommends stronger institutional reforms and civic empowerment for a sustainable democratic outcome.