By Makutu Manneh
Veteran Gambian politician Tina Faal has joined the UNITE party, bolstering the ranks of the opposition movement as political parties intensify preparations for the December presidential election.
Ms. Faal, a former nominated member of the National Assembly and former deputy leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), was formally received on Wednesday at UNITE’s political bureau in Fajara by party leaders, officials, and supporters.
Welcoming Ms. Faal and her delegation, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, UNITE’s leader and the mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council, described her decision to join the party as a significant boost to its campaign. He said women and young people constituted the party’s strongest base of support and would play a decisive role in the upcoming election.
Mr. Bensouda argued that Gambians continue to face mounting economic hardship, rising violent crime, strains on the health care system and persistent challenges in education. He said President Adama Barrow, who came to office promising change, had failed to deliver the transformation many voters had expected.
“With your decision to join us today, we have even greater hope,” Mr. Bensouda said. “Yesterday we partnered with Lamin J. Darboe of the National Unity Party, and today we are welcoming you.”
In her remarks, Ms. Faal urged Gambians to rally behind Mr. Bensouda, describing him as a leader capable of steering the country toward greater stability and development.
She said she had spent several years reflecting on her political future after leaving the GDC before deciding that UNITE best aligned with her vision for the country. She cited worsening economic conditions, soaring prices and stagnant incomes as key reasons for returning to active politics, adding that women and young people have borne the brunt of the country’s economic challenges.
Karafa Sonko, UNITE’s deputy party leader for campaign and mobilization, welcomed Ms. Faal and other new members, saying their decision to join the party would strengthen its nationwide campaign ahead of the December vote.
Businesswoman Anna Njie Coker, who also joined the party, said her experience in the private sector had given her firsthand insight into the economic difficulties confronting ordinary Gambians and motivated her to seek political change through UNITE.
Ms. Faal’s induction comes as parties accelerate campaign efforts and pursue new alliances ahead of the presidential election. A series of defections and political partnerships has reshaped the opposition landscape in recent weeks, with UNITE maintaining that it intends to become the country’s largest political party by September 2026.
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