Barrow Vows to ‘Retire’ Darboe From Politics, Praises Faal for Joining His Coalition

By Makutu Manneh

President Adama Barrow said Saturday that he intended to force his longtime political rival, Ousainou Darboe, into retirement at the December presidential election, while praising Essa Mbye Faal for what he described as a wise decision to join his governing coalition.

Speaking to supporters at a National People’s Party rally in Farafenni, Mr. Barrow sought to portray the growing number of parties and political figures backing his candidacy as evidence that his re-election was assured.

Mr. Barrow said there were two things that could not be taken away from Mr. Darboe—his career as a lawyer and his longstanding role as an opposition politician. But he predicted that the United Democratic Party leader’s political career would come to an end this year.

He said he would make Mr. Darboe “retire and go on pension” from politics, casting the December election as the closing chapter of his rival’s decades-long political career.

Mr. Barrow also pointed to the size of the crowd in Farafenni as evidence of his political strength, saying that if Mr. Darboe saw photographs of the gathering, he would acknowledge that the election was effectively over.

The president has made similar claims in recent appearances, repeatedly declaring the presidential contest settled even though voters have yet to cast their ballots. The election is scheduled for Dec. 5.

Mr. Barrow said that after Mama Kandeh and his Gambia Democratic Congress joined his coalition, he urged Mr. Darboe to do the same, arguing that the opposition leader should abandon the contest and work with his government. Mr. Darboe declined.

The president said he later extended a similar invitation to Mr. Faal, the leader of APP-Sobeyaa and previously one of his most outspoken political critics. During an event in Gunjur last weekend, Mr. Barrow publicly urged Mr. Faal to join his coalition and work with his government.

On Saturday, Mr. Barrow praised Mr. Faal for accepting that invitation.

“Essa Faal acted wisely by packing his belongings, came to me, and told me he had joined me,” Mr. Barrow said.

APP-Sobeyaa announced earlier this week that it had reached an agreement in principle with the NPP on a political alliance ahead of the election. The decision marked a significant political shift for Mr. Faal, who had spent much of the election cycle criticizing the Barrow administration over governance, corruption, and accountability. The alliance has also faced resistance from some figures within APP-Sobeyaa, who have challenged how the decision was reached.

Mr. Barrow said the addition of Mr. Faal to a coalition that already includes Mr. Kandeh and several political parties and organizations had further strengthened his campaign.

He cited the NPP, GDC, APRC, NRP, GMC, Citizens’ Alliance, ANRP, PPP and NPC among the political groups now supporting his candidacy, declaring that the expanding coalition meant the presidential contest had effectively been decided.

Mr. Barrow said Gambian voters could no longer be easily deceived and argued that their primary concern was electing a government capable of delivering tangible development.

He pointed to projects undertaken during his administration as evidence of his record, while telling supporters that those investments represented only the beginning of what his government intended to accomplish.

“The real work is yet to start,” he said.