By Fatou Sillah
Political analyst and commentator Nyang Njie has argued that Gambian politics has increasingly shifted away from its traditional focus on public service, with some political actors now driven more by personal gain than by the public interest.
Speaking in an interview with West Coast Radio ahead of the 2026 presidential election, Mr. Njie said politics was once viewed as a vehicle for improving the lives of citizens but has, in recent years, become a means of advancing individual ambitions and economic interests.
“In the past, politics was about public service and making people’s lives better,” he said. “Unfortunately, in recent times, politics has become a means to an end for personal enrichment and personal interests.”
Mr. Njie said the erosion of those values has weakened the country’s culture of public service, arguing that principles, conviction, and conscience are no longer the primary motivations for some politicians.
He warned that if the trend continues, it could leave a troubling legacy for future generations of Gambians.
“The culture they’re going to bequeath to the next generation of Gambians is not good for Gambian politics in the medium to long term, and that’s scary,” he said.
Reflecting on the collapse of efforts to forge an opposition coalition for the 2026 election, Mr. Njie said successful political negotiations require compromise and a realistic appreciation of each party’s electoral strength and influence.
He argued that the coalition talks ultimately failed because those fundamental principles were not adequately observed.
“Politics is a game of vested interests,” he said. “But in as much as it’s a game of vested interests, one has to make consensus and compromises to forge ahead,” he said.
Mr. Njie also drew a distinction between the current coalition efforts and the alliance that defeated former President Yahya Jammeh in 2016. He said the 2016 coalition was united primarily by a common objective of ending Mr. Jammeh’s rule rather than by a shared governing agenda.
Looking ahead, Mr. Njie urged political leaders to move beyond campaigns centered solely on removing incumbents and instead build alliances around common ideas, policy priorities, and a shared vision for transforming the country.
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