Africa-Press – Gambia. President Adama Barrow has called for peace, unity, and restraint ahead of the 2026 presidential election, as he highlighted his government’s development achievements and acknowledged key national and global challenges in his New Year message.
In his New Year address, President Barrow described 2025 as a historic year, during which The Gambia celebrated 60 years of political independence, while recording progress in democracy, the rule of law, and socio-economic development.
He said the implementation of the 2023–2027 Yiriwa National Development Plan was progressing well, citing major infrastructure projects, particularly road construction, as evidence of the government’s achievements.
According to the president, efforts were also underway to achieve universal access to electricity, with most rural communities being connected to the national grid for the first time.
President Barrow noted a significant expansion in the education and health sectors, stating that access to tertiary education increased substantially in 2025, while the healthcare system continued to improve.
He added that Gambia’s international standing had improved, as demonstrated by the number of international meetings hosted in the country and the roles it now plays in global and regional organisations, including the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the African Union (AU), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
On governance and security, the president said feedback from citizens and official reports indicated that the country remained stable, with progress recorded in legislation, policy development, and institutional reforms.
Turning to the 2026 presidential election, President Barrow urged political actors and citizens to engage in ethical politics, avoid violence and hate speech, and respect human rights. He also called on media practitioners and social media users to promote national values.
He acknowledged persistent challenges, including the high cost of living, youth unemployment, irregular migration, crime, uneven rainfall during the 2025 farming season, and delays in adopting a new constitution. He also expressed concern about ongoing global and regional conflicts.
Looking ahead, President Barrow said 2026 would be a year of stocktaking, with continued focus on road construction, universal access to energy, healthcare improvement, tourism development, and institutional strengthening.
He thanked Gambians, development partners, and the diaspora for their support and reiterated his commitment to inclusivity, peace, stability, and national development.
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