By Staff Writer
A new national opinion survey has found widespread dissatisfaction with economic conditions and governance in The Gambia, even as public commitment to democratic freedoms remains strong ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
The survey, conducted by the Center for Policy, Research, and Strategic Studies (CepRass) in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), paints a portrait of a public that is both highly informed and increasingly critical. While fundamental democratic values remain robust, the findings suggest that voters are shifting toward a strictly performance-based assessment of their leaders.
The poll, conducted in November 2025, surveyed 1,245 Gambian citizens across all local government areas. It has a margin of error of three percentage points.
Public sentiment on the economy is overwhelmingly negative. Only 18 percent of respondents rated the economy positively, while about 76 percent described it as “fairly bad” or “very bad,” underscoring deep concern over economic performance.
The rising cost of living emerged as the most pressing issue. Roughly 75 percent of respondents said the government was handling prices poorly, and 42 percent identified rising prices as the country’s single most important economic problem—far outpacing concerns such as unemployment and agriculture.
Although perceptions of personal living conditions were slightly less severe, nearly half of the respondents said they were struggling, suggesting that macroeconomic pressures are increasingly affecting household welfare.
The findings point to broader dissatisfaction with governance. Only about 32 percent of respondents expressed satisfaction with the state of democracy, compared with roughly 57 percent who said they were dissatisfied. Overall governance fared worse, with just 26 percent approval against 62 percent disapproval.
Public concern about accountability was also pronounced. About 68 percent of respondents said the government was handling the fight against corruption poorly, while a similar share expressed dissatisfaction with how land disputes are managed.
Trust in public institutions varied significantly. The military emerged as one of the most trusted institutions, with about 65 percent of respondents expressing confidence in it. By contrast, trust in the police was weaker, with more than half of respondents reporting little or no trust.
Concerns about policing practices were also evident. Approximately two-thirds of respondents said police brutality occurs either “very often” or “sometimes,” indicating widespread unease about law enforcement conduct.
Despite dissatisfaction with governance, support for democratic principles remains robust. About 90 percent of respondents said people must be free to criticize the government, reflecting a strong national consensus in favor of free expression.
Similarly, 72 percent of respondents said recent youth protests were justified, pointing to a growing acceptance of civic activism as part of democratic engagement.
The survey also found mixed views on foreign policy. While 41 percent rated the government’s handling of foreign relations positively, a significant number expressed uncertainty, suggesting limited public engagement with international affairs.
More critical were perceptions of diaspora engagement, with over half of respondents rating government support to Gambians abroad negatively. In addition, about 61 percent described relations with Senegal as exploitative of The Gambia.
The findings suggest that economic hardship, accountability, and government responsiveness are likely to dominate public opinion as the country approaches the 2026 presidential vote.
While Gambians remain strongly committed to democratic ideals, the survey indicates that future political support will depend heavily on how effectively leaders address the rising cost of living, improve governance, and rebuild trust in public institutions.
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