
It has been announced recently that Gambian President Adama Barrow will stand for a third term in 2026. This is in stark contrast to the promises made when he took power and run for elections in 2016. He had to get help from ECOWAS to get rid of the predecessor who is now living in exile, former President Yahya Jammeh who had been the President of the Republic since a coup d’état in 1994.
Now in 2023 and in his second term the current President is planning and announcing that his standing again in 2026. It is years in advance but very telling. That the man who promised a change and “democracy” is now turning into the one he fought. He is also getting hooked on power and doesn’t want to leave.
This sort of story isn’t new and it’s happening across the continent. President after President, Head of State after Head of State are coming in and promising a swift change. However, when they get in office and get power they never want to leave. They alter the laws and the constitutions. While they saying they have more things to achieve or haven’t finished their “project”.
Whatever it is… it’s disingenuous and insincere. It is a mockery of the people and the will of the people. That they think solely they are only ones fit to be President. Barrow is continuing where so many of his peers left off. It is for those reasons why the only way to “win” elections or get a new head of state is by coup d’état. Because the elections and the campaigns are made in favour of the incumbent and his party.
It isn’t long ago that Alpha Conde was ousted after pressing for a longer stint after a “popular” and a “majority” vote. We have seen that Alassane Ouattara went for his third term in 2020 after he fought for his victory in 2010 to oust Laurent Gbagbo who had been in office since 2000 and was ousted in 2011. Therefore, Ouattara has now been longer in office than Gbagbo ever was and one of the sticking points was the Gbagbo was “overstaying” in office.
Why do I mention these? Well, it is just how these things goes. There have been several others and I could have used examples of late Presidents in Burundi and Tanzania. While also could mention the likes of Museveni (Uganda), Guelleh (Djibouti), Al-Bashir (Sudan), Mugabe (Zimbabwe), Sassou Nguesso (Congo-Brazzaville), Obiang (Equatorial Guinea), Biya (Cameroon), Afewerki (Eritrea), Gnassingbé (Togo) and Kagame (Rwanda). That’s just to mention a few who has stood for a third term and is currently still in office.
Barrow will just be on this list. Join fellow Heads of State who is willing to overstay and never leave office. That’s what they do and his one of them. What is striking is how he went off and did a lot of promises in opposition. However, when the push came to shove his just like all of them.
The sweet juices and perks of being a high ranking official is to endearing to give up. There are mere few who dares and lives long on it. That being Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) or Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya). Others pushes and pursuits another term by any means. They are willing to postpone and ensure another term. Therefore, Barrow might end up like on of them.
It would be poetic if he ends up like Jammeh. Sooner or later gravity will fall on him too. He might feel Teflon and righteous right now. Nevertheless, nothing is lasting forever. Even if he wants it too. That’s why the predecessor had to flee and leave when Barrow got help from Senegal and ECOWAS. It is so easy to forget.
Sooner or later a new opposition leader could gain popularity and notoriety, which could endanger the hegemony of Barrow. He would then face the dilemma of Jammeh and how to handle that one. Especially, when he was supposed to be different. He was supposed to issue “democracy” and unify the nation. It is just so compelling when his now planning to run in 2026. That his getting closer and closer to the years of Jammeh. Those sorts of facts should worry him, but I doubt he cares.
Barrow has become the king on the throne, and he don’t want to be a statement an retire in peace. Peace.












