In response to Saihou Mballow’s statement on Diaspora voting!!
By Ndey Jobarteh
The Government and the IEC promised Diaspora voting during the 2021 election, yet at the last minute, they failed to deliver. Instead of taking responsibility, they played a blame game, leaving Gambians abroad stripped of their constitutional right to vote. If Diaspora voting was truly supported by Barrow and the NPP/APRC, why did his administration actively prevent its implementation when everything was ready? Let me take this one by one:
1.The Diaspora Did the Government’s Job:Yet They Still Refused to Act
Saihou Mballow’s claim that the Government is working to ensure “proper mechanisms” for Diaspora voting, but this is nothing more than a delay tactic. The MSDG team, led by Professor Gibril Faal MBE, worked tirelessly to ensure diaspora voting was possible. We joined MSDG in this process to get the Diaspora to vote in 2021 elections with James Bahoum, Pa Samba Jaw, Jeggan Grey Johnson (Right to Know), Cherno Ba, Sosseh Ceesay, Maimuna Taal, Sulayman Ben Suwareh,(The Gambia House Committee).
MSDG under the leadership of Prof. Gibril Faal took on responsibilities that should have been handled by the IEC, including:
Mapping out the diaspora population
Compiling voter statistics
Identifying polling station locations
Organizing voting logistics
Offering additional financial support to IEC for diaspora staff
Every barrier was removed, yet the IEC suddenly claimed they lacked capacity at the last minute. This was not an accident, it was a deliberate political decision to block diaspora votes.
2.The excuse of ‘Logistical Challenges’ is FALSE.
Saihou Mballow’s statement that the Government is only waiting for the “proper mechanisms” is a blatant misrepresentation. The truth is:
All logistics were sorted out years ago, by the MSDG team, not the government.
Resources and expertise were available, offered by Gambians abroad and experienced election officials.
Funding was not an issue, even additional support was offered.
So, what is the real reason diaspora voting has not been implemented? Fear? Barrow and the NPP/APRC fear losing the diaspora vote, which is why they have actively obstructed its implementation.
3.The Contradiction in Barrow’s support for Diaspora Voting
Saihou Mballow claims that President Barrow and the NPP/APRC support Diaspora voting, yet, under Barrow’s leadership, the Government has deliberately failed to implement it. The Constitutional right of Gambians abroad to vote is already established, yet no practical steps have been taken to make it a reality.
If Barrow truly respects the Constitution and values the Diaspora, why has his administration not prioritized Diaspora voting in electoral reforms? Instead of delivering on their promises, the Government has engaged in delays, deception, and suppression tactics to deny Gambians abroad their right to vote.
4.The Baseless Confidence in a Barrow Victory
Saihou Mballow boldly claims that Barrow would win in Diaspora elections, but where is the evidence? The reality is that Diaspora sentiments overwhelmingly lean toward opposition due to their firsthand experience with Barrow’s failures.
The diaspora contributes significantly to The Gambia’s economy through remittances, yet their voices are silenced.
Barrow’s administration has failed to engage or serve Gambians abroad, disregarding their concerns while benefiting from their financial contributions.
If Barrow were truly confident in his popularity among the diaspora, his government would have fast tracked diaspora voting instead of blocking it.
The truth is simple, Barrow and his government fear diaspora voters because they know they will not win.
5.The Reality of Barrow’s Governance: A Failing Administration
Mballow suggests that diaspora Gambians are satisfied with Barrow’s leadership, but reality paints a very different picture:
Rampant corruption has eroded public trust.
Economic mismanagement has left Gambians struggling with inflation and unemployment.
Basic services, including healthcare and education, are collapsing.
Security concerns persist, and political repression is increasing.
If the diaspora was truly satisfied, why do they continue to demand change? Why do they remain some of the most vocal critics of Barrow’s administration?
- Barrow and NPP are Deliberately Blocking Diaspora Voting
The facts are undeniable, Barrow’s administration does not want diaspora voting because they fear losing the Diaspora vote. The delay tactics, blame shifting, and baseless justifications all point to one thing, Political Suppression. The Gambian Diaspora has fought tirelessly for this right since 2016, but the Government continues to betray its promises. If Barrow truly believed in democracy, he would implement diaspora voting immediately.
This is not a matter of logistics.
This is not a matter of feasibility.
This is a matter of political will.
Until Barrow’s Government takes concrete action to implement Diaspora voting, all claims of “supporting it” are nothing more than empty rhetoric. The Gambian Diaspora will not be silenced.
In conclusion what the Diaspora is asking for is our right! Mballow and co automatically equate this to who the Diaspora will vote for. You cannot deny people their right for fear of the exercise of that right. Extend the franchise and let us vote. Who we chose to vote for is entirely up to us.
The Diaspora vote is being stalled not for lack of preparation cause it was in the draft elections bill. The mechanics have been carefully planned, documented and funding was going to be made available . The only missing piece in the puzzle was Governments will.
It’s so sad that those who refused to support the 2016 coalition candidate, refused to even be part of the meetings with the President post 2016 elections victory in the US can now preach to us. Please spare us .
All we are asking is for our right to be given to us. Plain and simple.
Read Saihou Mballow’s Statement here from KERR FATOU https://www.kerrfatou.com/diaspora-voting-saihou-mballow-asserts-president-barrow-enjoys-strong-support-among-gambians-abroad/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0s07YY-bQjBbJLUOw5AXwlcACevmfshYOoSNMy5ftf_ogAa5Eltq1epN0_aem_BZrtarPdlOyf0qiWV8RfKw
