APeX Says APP Sobeyaa Withdrew 12 Hours Before Final Coalition Negotiations

By Staff Writer

APeX, the body brokering coalition negotiations among Gambian opposition parties, has confirmed that the APP Sobeyaa party withdrew from the talks roughly 12 hours before a final session, disputing the party’s stated reasons for leaving.

In a statement issued Sunday, APeX said APP Sobeyaa notified the group of its decision in a letter dated Sept. 5, 2026. The letter was received by email at 4:23 a.m. GMT on Sept. 6, approximately 12 hours before the final negotiation session was scheduled to take place.

APeX said it decided to respond publicly after a copy of APP Sobeyaa’s withdrawal letter began circulating online.

“Generally speaking, negotiations are voluntary endeavors,” the group said, adding that it respects the right of any participating party to withdraw at any time.

However, APeX challenged the reasons APP Sobeyaa gave for its departure, saying the party had incorrectly suggested that disagreements had emerged among participants over power-sharing and implied that changes were made to a draft coalition agreement outside the rules governing the negotiations.

APeX said it had formally written to APP Sobeyaa to raise those concerns.

The group maintained that throughout the negotiations, it had sought to follow the principles, policies, and procedures established for its engagement with participating stakeholders.

“APeX wishes to make a simple clarification that what is in APP Sobeyaa’s letter as reasons for withdrawing is not factual,” the statement said.

APeX said it would not engage in further public discussion of the dispute.

The statement was signed by APeX Chairperson Dr. Jaye Krubally and Outreach Lead Demba Ali Jawo.