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1996 Gambian presidential election

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FieldValue
election_name1996 Gambian presidential election
countryThe Gambia
typepresidential
vote_typePopular
ongoingno
previous_election1992 Gambian general election
previous_year1992
election_date29 September 1996
next_election2001 Gambian presidential election
next_year2001
registered446,541
turnout88.35%
image_size130x130px
image1Yahya Jammeh.jpg
nominee1Yahya Jammeh
party1Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction
popular_vote1220,011
percentage155.77%
image2File:Ousainou Darboe.png
nominee2Ousainou Darboe
party2United Democratic Party (The Gambia)
popular_vote2114,177
percentage235.84%
image3File:Hamat Bah 2017.jpg
nominee3Hamat Bah
party3National Reconciliation Party
popular_vote321,759
percentage35.52%
map_imageMap of the 1996 Gambian presidential election.svg
map_size400px
titlePresident
before_electionYahya Jammeh
before_partyMilitary (AFPRC)
after_electionYahya Jammeh
after_partyAlliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction

Presidential elections were held in the Gambia on 29 September 1996. The first since the 1994 military coup led by Yahya Jammeh, they were also the first elections to be held under the new constitution, and the first presidential elections held separately from parliamentary elections. Voter turnout was exceptionally high, with 88% of the 446,541 registered voters voting.

Despite originally stating that he did not intend to run, Jammeh entered the race shortly before the elections. He emerged victorious with 55.8% of the vote, winning the most votes in every district except Mansa Konko (where UDP candidate Ousainou Darboe was the most voted-for).

The elections were criticised as unfair due to government crackdowns on journalists and opposition leaders at the time, as well as fraud and other irregularities. Political parties that existed prior to the 1994 coup were not allowed to compete.

Results

The number of invalid votes was extremely low due to the country's unique voting system of putting marbles into drums, which meant that almost no votes were rejected.

References

References

  1. "Freedom in the World 1999 - Gambia, The".
  2. French, Howard W.. (September 28, 1996). "Military Ruler in Gambia Defeats Rivals in Election". [[The New York Times]].
  3. (1996). "The Gambia: The government must protect human rights during the forthcoming parliamentary elections".
  4. (2024). "A 'New Gambia'? Managing political crisis and change in an African small state". Commonwealth & Comparative Politics.
  5. (2011-05-12). "The Gambia country profile". BBC News.
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