‘We Choose Gambia First’: Madikay Faal Says GFC-UDP Alliance Seeks to Change Country’s Direction

By Seedy Jobe

Madikay Faal, leader of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), said the Gambia First Coalition’s alliance with the United Democratic Party is seeking to offer voters a choice between what he described as continued economic hardship and a new direction centered on dignity, opportunity, and justice.

Speaking on behalf of the alliance during the UDP’s 30th anniversary celebration at the Brikama SSP grounds, Mr. Faal said The Gambia had reached a defining moment that could shape the country inherited by future generations.

He asked Gambians to consider whether they wanted to continue living with poverty, a rising cost of living, unemployment, corruption, and political division, or pursue what he described as an alternative in which citizens have greater hope, dignity, justice, and a voice in the affairs of their country.

“We choose the latter. We choose Gambia first,” Mr. Faal said.

The PPP leader also paid tribute to the founding members of the UDP, reflecting on the histories of both the UDP and the PPP and their respective roles in the country’s political development. He said the two parties, despite their different political traditions, are part of a shared Gambian story and can now work together in what he described as the national interest.

Mr. Faal reserved particular praise for UDP leader ANM Ousainu Darboe, describing him as a political figure who stood against dictatorship and repression and became a voice for Gambians whose rights were under threat.

He said Mr. Darboe’s commitment to democracy, justice, and the rule of law had helped inspire a generation of political leaders and activists. The GFC-UDP alliance, he added, recognizes Darboe’s role and sacrifices in The Gambia’s democratic struggle.

“The Gambia has seen you fight for democracy. We have seen you defend the Constitution,” Mr. Faal said. “Now we want the Gambian people to have the opportunity to see you lead the state and put those principles into practice. This is the people’s moment for change, and we believe Gambia is ready for you to lead the way.”

Mr. Faal said the Gambia First Coalition was not created merely as an electoral vehicle but as an alliance intended to change the country’s direction and address the economic and social difficulties facing ordinary Gambians.

He urged supporters to view the partnership as broader than traditional party politics, saying its central objective was to place the national interest above individual or partisan considerations.

For Mr. Faal, the alliance’s message was encapsulated in a simple declaration: “We choose Gambia first.”