Coalition 2026 Formalizes Opposition Alliance as Bensouda Pledges Unity Over Personal Ambition

By Seedy Jobe

Coalition 2026 on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding formally bringing together opposition parties and political movements ahead of The Gambia’s Dec. 5 presidential election.

The signing ceremony, held at Penchami Hall at the Paradise Suites Hotel, brought together leaders of the participating parties and movements, along with prominent opposition figures.

Coalition leaders described the agreement as the beginning of a new chapter in opposition politics, one centered on cooperation, national unity, and a shared vision for the country’s future. Representatives of the participating groups pledged to deepen their collaboration as the election approaches.

Accepting his role as the coalition’s flag bearer, the UNITE party leader and mayor of Kanifing, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, said the alliance must remain larger than any individual or political party.

“As your flag bearer, I will work to ensure that this coalition remains bigger than any individual, including myself,” Mr. Bensouda said. “I will listen. I will consult. I will respect our partners.”

He said building a successful coalition would require compromise, patience, and trust, adding that political leaders must sometimes set aside their personal ambitions in the broader national interest. The mandate the coalition is seeking, he said, ultimately belongs to the Gambian people.

Mr. Bensouda also pointed to the growing involvement of young people and women in the coalition, saying their support reflected a desire for a politics that produces tangible improvements in people’s lives rather than one built around slogans.

Citing official statistics, he said 57 percent of Gambians between the ages of 15 and 35 are economically inactive, while only 42 percent participate in the labor force. He also highlighted disparities between men and women, saying women’s labor-force participation stands at 41.9 percent, compared with 54.9 percent for men.

He added that 78 percent of working women are employed in the informal sector and earn an average of D31.50 an hour, compared with D42.40 for men.

Mr. Bensouda said The Gambia would struggle to reach its full economic potential unless women and young people were given greater opportunities to participate meaningfully in the economy.