By Seedy Jobe
In a forceful address at the Coalition for System Change’s national consultative meeting on Sunday, Essa Mbye Faal, leader of the APP-Sobeyaa party, called for a united opposition to confront what he described as systemic failures in The Gambia.
Speaking to party officials, Faal highlighted what he describes as the country’s economic struggles, entrenched corruption, and faltering healthcare and education systems. He cited The Gambia’s ranking of 174th out of 191 countries on the Human Development Index as evidence of the government’s shortcomings.
“The system that we have has produced terrible results for the Gambian people,” Faal said, citing the country’s low ranking of 174th out of 191 nations on the Human Development Index. He criticized what he described as a “yekalante” system, in which national resources are exploited by those in power, leaving most Gambians struggling.
Faal underscored the necessity of a united front to challenge the incumbent government, emphasizing that disunity could thwart the opposition’s aspirations. “A divided opposition could spell disaster for our aspirations,” he said, urging opposition leaders to prioritize a coalition built on trust and a transparent candidate selection process ahead of upcoming elections.
The APP-Sobeyaa leader also stressed the importance of durable agreements and post-election discipline, cautioning against “anointment,” where a candidate is chosen without open consultation. “We shouldn’t just be striving to change Peter for Paul,” Faal said, calling for comprehensive reforms and an overhaul of key institutions.