From Barrow’s Deputy to His Challenger: Former Vice President Isatou Touray Files Presidential Nomination

By Makutu Manneh

Former Vice President Dr. Isatou Touray has formally submitted her nomination papers to contest the December 5 presidential election, setting the stage for a political contest against President Adama Barrow, under whom she once served as the country’s second-highest-ranking official.

Dr. Touray filed her nomination as an independent candidate at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Wednesday, November 4, marking her entry into the race to unseat her former boss.

Speaking to journalists after submitting her documents, the former vice president acknowledged her role in the Barrow administration, saying she would neither distance herself from its record nor evade responsibility for its shortcomings.

She maintained that her time in government gave her firsthand experience of both the administration’s achievements and its failures, insisting that political leadership requires honesty, accountability, and a willingness to learn from past mistakes.

Dr. Touray revisited the unfulfilled promise of the 2016 opposition coalition that brought President Barrow to power. The coalition had pledged a three-year transitional presidency during which constitutional and institutional reforms would be implemented to strengthen the country’s democratic foundations.

However, she noted that the commitment was abandoned when President Barrow remained in office for a full five-year term.

The former vice president acknowledged that the administration in which she served failed to deliver on some of its key promises. She argued, however, that effective leadership is not defined by an absence of mistakes but by the willingness to acknowledge failures, learn from them and pursue a different course.

Turning to the country’s development challenges, Dr. Touray expressed concern about the continued economic difficulties facing ordinary Gambians, particularly those living in rural communities.

“Rural families are still struggling for better livelihoods, services, and economic opportunities. Development should not be measured by headline figures but by whether ordinary people can feel the change in their daily lives,” she said.

She argued that national development should be assessed through tangible improvements in people’s living conditions rather than government statistics and public announcements.

Dr. Touray said her experience in public office had reinforced her conviction that The Gambia needs leadership grounded in accountability, responsiveness, and a genuine willingness to listen to citizens.

According to her, the next president must be prepared to acknowledge past shortcomings, learn from experience, and adopt a different approach to governance.

She also emphasized that the December election should not be viewed merely as a contest between political personalities but as a defining moment for the country’s future.

For Dr. Touray, the central issue is whether the next administration can create meaningful opportunities and improve living conditions for Gambians, particularly young people whose prospects remain closely tied to the country’s political and economic direction.

Her decision to challenge President Barrow places her in direct political competition with an administration she once helped lead, adding another dimension to the presidential race ahead of the December 5 vote.