A Shift in Gambian Political Culture: The Historic 2021 Presidential Debate
On November 20, 2021, two presidential candidates in The Gambia took to the stage in an historic moment to debate their policies and plans ahead of the December 4 presidential election. This was the first debate between presidential candidates since The Gambia became an independent state in 1965. Until December 2016, when Gambians voted out then-President Yahya Jammeh, the mere discussion of politics or the slightest criticism of the country’s leadership could result in arrest, forced disappearances or worse.