Darboe Pledges ECOMIG Withdrawal, Diaspora Seats in National Assembly

By Seedy Jobe

United Democratic Party (UDP) Secretary General and presidential candidate ANM Ousainu Darboe has pledged to oversee a carefully planned withdrawal of the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) and introduce parliamentary representation for Gambians living abroad if elected president.

Speaking during an interview on QTV’s Xalaat program, Darboe said a UDP government would ensure that foreign troops leave the country through an orderly transition without compromising national security.

Asked whether he had a specific timeline for ECOMIG’s withdrawal, Darboe declined to commit to a deadline, saying it would be irresponsible to promise their departure within six months or three years without properly assessing the security situation.

Instead, he said his administration would pursue a responsible withdrawal process that safeguards the country’s stability.

Darboe expressed confidence in The Gambia’s security forces, insisting that they possess the professionalism, patriotism, and capacity to maintain national security without foreign military assistance.

He maintained that even an immediate ECOMIG withdrawal would not necessarily create a security vacuum, citing his confidence in Gambian security personnel.

“This is their country. No one else will love the country more than those who wear our uniform. I have confidence in them that there will be no vacuum,” he said.

Turning to diaspora participation in national affairs, Darboe pledged to expand the political rights of Gambians abroad, including granting them voting rights and direct representation in the National Assembly.

He argued that the diaspora’s substantial economic contributions justify a greater role in the country’s political and democratic processes.

According to Darboe, remittances from Gambians abroad in 2025 exceeded the combined value of domestically collected government revenue and foreign grants by D20 billion.

He said Gambians who contribute significantly to the national economy should also have a meaningful voice in determining the country’s leadership.

Darboe reiterated the UDP’s commitment to introducing a new constitution that explicitly guarantees voting rights for Gambians living overseas.

He traced efforts to establish diaspora voting to the tenure of the late Bishop Tilewa Johnson, a former chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), who he said had developed plans to facilitate overseas voting before his removal from office.

According to Darboe, the initiative subsequently stalled, but the UDP has continued advocating for diaspora enfranchisement.

Beyond voting rights, Darboe said his administration would ensure that qualified Gambians abroad could serve as government ministers and directly represent their communities in the National Assembly.

He proposed expanding the legislature to establish dedicated constituencies for Gambians living overseas.

Rejecting arguments that diaspora communities lack geographically defined constituencies, Darboe pointed to the creation of constituencies such as Busumbala, Old Yundum, New Yundum, Brikama South, and Brikama North as examples of how electoral boundaries can be established to meet changing representation needs.

He maintained that similar arrangements could be introduced to accommodate Gambians abroad.

Darboe added that a UDP government would engage diaspora organizations in developing an appropriate framework to ensure their representation is effective and meaningful.