Presidential elections were held in the Gambia on 29 September 1996.

Despite originally stating that he did not intend to run, Jammeh entered the race shortly before the elections.

He emerged victorious with 55.8% of the vote, winning the most votes in every district except Mansa Konko (where UDP candidate Ousainou Darboe was the most voted-for).

The elections were criticised as unfair due to government crackdowns on journalists and opposition leaders at the time, as well as fraud and other irregularities.

[1][2][3][4] Political parties that existed prior to the 1994 coup were not allowed to compete.