By Seedy Jobe
The Coalition Taskforce Mediation Committee (CTMC) has concluded its 8th Strategic Session with a renewed commitment to fostering consensus and unity among opposition political parties and movements ahead of The Gambia’s presidential election scheduled for December 5, 2026.
The session, held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Metzy Hotel in Senegambia, was hosted by the Forward Gambia Movement under the leadership of Ambassador Essa Bokar Sey. Representatives of political parties and movements participating in coalition discussions attended the meeting.
In a press release issued on Sunday, the CTMC announced the appointment of Lawyer Assan Martin as the coalition’s spokesperson.
“The General Assembly appointed Lawyer Assan Martin as the Coalition Spokesman,” the committee stated.
CTMC Chairman Professor Yerro Mballow commended the host organization and encouraged participants to engage constructively throughout the process.
According to the release, Prof. Mballow urged all parties and movements to participate in discussions with openness and mutual respect, expressing confidence that the coalition process would conclude with a clear roadmap and strengthened trust among stakeholders.
In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Essa Bokar Sey underscored the importance of unity under the theme: “Building Unity Through Consensus, Patience, Virtue, and Decorum.”
He reminded delegates that coalition-building should transcend partisan interests and focus on the national good.
“Ambassador Sey reminded delegates that coalition-building is not a meeting of partisan interests, but a convergence of patriotic minds placing national interest above individual ambition,” the statement noted.
Emphasizing the need for long-term vision and selflessness, he urged participants to remain focused on the broader aspirations of Gambians.
“Building a solid bridge that will last centuries is better than shattering the hopes of our children with short-sighted selfishness,” he said, adding that “The Gambian people are watching us; history will not judge us by positions held, but by the sacrifices we made.”
The session also adopted the minutes of the previous meeting hosted by the Democratic Renaissance Party (DRP), led by former Vice President Aja Dr. Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang.
A key item on the agenda was the presentation of the Framework for Shared Governance, Democratic Renewal and National Transformation, submitted by APP-Sobeyaa. The document is expected to guide ongoing discussions on power-sharing arrangements and institutional reforms within the proposed coalition.
The CTMC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and issue-based politics as preparations continue for the 2026 presidential election.
According to the committee, the 9th Strategic Session is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026, and will be hosted by the UNITE Movement for Change, led by Talib Bensouda, at Baobab Hotel.
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