1996 Gambian constitutional referendum

1996 Gambian constitutional referendum

8 August 1996 (1996-08-08)
Results
Choice Votes  % Yes 270,093 70.37% No 113,744 29.63% Valid votes 383,837 99.99% Invalid or blank votes 38 0.01% Total votes 383,875 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 441,732 86.9%

A constitutional referendum was held in the Gambia on 8 August 1996. The new constitution was approved by 70% of voters, with a voter turnout of 87%.

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.

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. Country Profile: The Gambia Foreign & Commonwealth Office