Isatou Touray Cleared to Contest Gambia’s December Presidential Election

Former Gambian vice president Isatou Touray has received formal approval from the Independent Electoral Commission to run in the country’s December 5, 2026 presidential election. According to the report, she is the first woman accepted to contest this year’s race and will stand as an independent candidate. Touray submitted her nomination documents to the commission on November 4. Her papers were initially subject to further checks, and officials asked her to provide additional documentation, including proof of her secondary education. The IEC accepted her nomination after the verification process was completed, clearing her to campaign for the presidency. The development marks another step in Touray’s political career. She served as vice president under President Adama Barrow from March 2019 until May 2022. She also sought the presidency in 2016, becoming the first woman to do so, but later withdrew to support the coalition that eventually brought Barrow to power. At the nomination exercise, Touray said she was entering the contest with humility and a sense of responsibility to Gambians. She also acknowledged her part in the Barrow administration, saying she would not separate herself from the government she served and accepted responsibility for its record, including both achievements and shortcomings. Among the concerns she raised was the failure to deliver promised constitutional reforms after the 2016 political transition. The report says she has also highlighted accountable leadership and development that benefits ordinary people, with particular attention to young people, women, farmers and rural communities. Her acceptance gives her the opportunity to present those priorities to voters alongside the other approved contenders. It also puts renewed focus on women’s representation in Gambian politics, where participation in presidential contests has remained limited despite women’s roles in public life and national development.