“A Change of Government, but Not Yet a Change of System,” Says Barra Touray as APP Faction Joins Coalition 2026

By Seedy Jobe

A faction of the All Peoples Party (APP)-Sobeyaa has formally joined Coalition 2026, led by Banjul Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, marking another political realignment ahead of The Gambia’s December presidential election.

The faction formalized its membership on Thursday during the coalition’s manifesto launch at the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Dr. Barra Touray described the occasion as a significant moment in the country’s political history, saying the decision followed extensive consultations with supporters nationwide and careful consideration of The Gambia’s political future.

Touray said the move reflected the faction’s commitment to democratic governance, transparency, and accountability, principles he said had guided the party since its establishment.

He recalled that the APP was registered on January 17, 2020, under its founding leader, Gumbo Ali Touray, with a political philosophy centered on putting people first. In December 2024, the party merged with the Sobeyaa Movement, led by Essa Faal, based on shared commitments to good governance and political reform.

According to Touray, the party subsequently participated in preliminary negotiations to establish Coalition 2026. However, when Faal chose to align himself with President Adama Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP), Touray said his faction decided not to follow.

“Our commitment is to the Gambian people. Politics is about people. Our decision was not taken in a closed room,” he said.

Touray maintained that the faction would bring substantial grassroots support to the coalition, citing its political presence in Sinchu Alagie, where its headquarters is located, as well as Lower Saloum, Manduar, Jokadou, Niamina and other communities across the country.

He described Coalition 2026 as a credible political alternative capable of delivering the leadership and reforms necessary to advance The Gambia’s development.

Emphasizing the importance of opposition unity, Touray invoked a quotation attributed to Benjamin Franklin.

“We must all hang together, or we shall all hang separately. So we will be together,” he said.

Turning to the Barrow administration, Touray accused the president of failing to fulfill key commitments made during the 2016 political transition, particularly promises concerning presidential term limits and the fight against corruption.

He questioned Barrow’s decision to seek a third term, arguing that many Gambians had become disillusioned with the pace of political and institutional reforms.

Touray also cited the dismissal of Auditor General Modou Ceesay as an example of what he described as growing concerns about the independence of public institutions responsible for safeguarding state resources.

He further questioned the continued deployment of the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG), nearly a decade after the political crisis that ended former President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule.

While expressing gratitude to ECOWAS and ECOMIG for their role in facilitating the country’s democratic transition, Touray argued that The Gambia should now assume greater responsibility for its own security.

He said the country was not at war and that Gambian security personnel, including the armed forces and immigration officers, should be entrusted with protecting its territorial integrity.

Assessing the government’s record, Touray argued that nearly a decade of Barrow’s leadership had produced limited development gains, rising public debt and mounting economic pressures on ordinary households.

“We had a change of government, but not yet a change of system. And the system change is coming through our government, the Coalition 2026 government headed by Talib Ahmed Bensouda,” he declared.

Touray also drew on a verse from the Quran, which teaches that God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves. He said meaningful national transformation must begin with personal responsibility, discipline, integrity and a renewed commitment to the common good.

Addressing the challenges facing young people and women, Touray said both groups continued to be marginalized in national development despite their central role in the country’s future.

He pointed to irregular migration, commonly known as the backway, as one of the most troubling consequences of limited economic opportunities.

Touray described the dangers confronting young Gambians who undertake perilous journeys across deserts and the Mediterranean Sea in search of better lives, often exposing themselves to exploitation, detention, deportation or death.

He said the human cost extended beyond those making the journeys, with families selling land and other assets to finance their relatives’ travel while parents endured prolonged uncertainty about their safety.

The migrants, he stressed, were not merely statistics but sons, daughters, brothers and sisters driven by a lack of opportunities rather than a lack of love for their country.

Touray said a Coalition 2026 government would prioritize quality education, vocational training and skills development aligned with employment opportunities. He also pledged support for young entrepreneurs, farmers and women traders through improved access to credit and markets.

He identified agriculture, fisheries, tourism and technology as critical sectors for job creation and economic growth, while advocating international partnerships that would expand opportunities for safe, legal and dignified migration.

Concluding his remarks, Touray urged political leaders to recognize the responsibilities that accompany public office, emphasizing that leadership must be grounded in service rather than personal privilege.

“Leadership is not a privilege to enjoy, it’s a trust we will all answer for,” he said.

He added that The Gambia’s political direction remained a matter of interest not only to its citizens but also to observers across the region and beyond.