Aji Yam Secka Says Darboe Would Need Only One Term to Reform The Gambia

By Fatou Sillah

Aji Yam Secka, deputy leader of the United Democratic Party, said in an interview with Kerr Fatou that Ousainu Darboe, the party’s leader, would need just one five-year term to carry out major reforms and put The Gambia on a stronger path.

Ms. Secka said Mr. Darboe’s age meant he would not seek a second term, but that five years would be enough for him to regulate key sectors, carry out reforms, and advance the country’s development.

“H.E. Darboe has empathy for the people, and he is an elder who can rule the country,” she said. “He is only going to serve one term because he is not young.”

She described the leadership styles of Mr. Darboe and President Adama Barrow as “like day and night.”

Ms. Secka said Mr. Darboe’s experience, education, honesty, and respect for the rule of law would allow him to achieve significant change in a single term. By the end of those five years, she said, Mr. Darboe would have advanced the country so far that citizens would themselves urge him to stay on, though she said he would decline.

She also rejected Mr. Barrow’s calls for Mr. Darboe to join him ahead of the 2026 election, saying the president had already damaged his relationship with the UDP leader.

“President Barrow has already ruined his relationship with Ousainou Darboe,” she said. “He has said a lot of things about Darboe. The UDP is not going anywhere.”

Ms. Secka also called on Mr. Barrow to recognize and compensate Mr. Darboe for his contributions to the country.