2017 marked a new beginning for the Gambia. The autocratic leader Yahya Jammeh, who had
ruled the country since 1994 and had lost the 2016 election only to retract his concession of defeat
in order to cling to power, was forced out of office and into exile by a coalition of opposition
parties with the support of the Economic Community of West African States (the latter threatened
military intervention if Jammeh did not honor the 2016 results).
The new government of Adama Barrow, the third president in Gambian history, has moved to
address the dire legacy of the Jammeh era. Barrow inherited a virtually bankrupt country with a
poorly functioning state apparatus and extensive corruption. The Gambia’s international
reputation had been marred by Jammeh’s erratic leadership style. Under his rule, the country had
experienced extensive human rights abuses such as torture and extrajudicial killings, and security
services had operated with impunity.
The challenges facing the Gambia in 2017 were thus manifold and significant. There has been
some positive economic news, particularly in terms of robust GDP growth, a rebound in the vital
tourism industry, and significant pledges from bilateral partners. However, other factors weigh
heavily on The Gambia’s economic outlook. Its debt burden is unsustainable and there are
significant structural obstacles, including a weak administrative apparatus in key areas, high
unemployment, and a lack of appropriate human resources.
The political and legal developments under Barrow are arguably more promising. His government
has not only ended or reverted some of the more egregious practices of the Jammeh era (e.g., the
release of political prisoners) but has overseen the adoption of a sweeping transitional justice
program. This opening up of the political climate in the Gambia is confirmed by limited public
opinion polling, which suggests that Gambians feel considerably freer than under the Jammeh
government. While the United Democratic Party associated with Barrow (he resigned from the