Lamin Manneh, Deputy Administrative Secretary, External Affairs United Democratic Party
By Fatou Sillah
Lamin Manneh, the deputy admin secretary for external affairs of the United Democratic Party, said in an interview that his party is confident it will win The Gambia’s 2026 presidential election, arguing that it is increasingly well positioned to unseat the current government.
“Today we know that we can win the next elections, and we will win it,” Manneh said in an interview with Mustapha K. Darboe, projecting certainty as the country inches closer to another pivotal vote.
Mr. Manneh said a UDP-led government would not be confined to party loyalists but would instead draw on expertise from across the nation, signaling an emphasis on technocratic governance over political affiliation.
“We will be focused on results, and results mean getting the most competent people to do the jobs, and we won’t have all of those competencies in the UDP. There are other people in this country who are not in the political party, but we have to bring them in; they have to be part of this development,” he said.
He also confirmed that the UDP is in talks with other opposition parties and independent political actors, part of a broader effort to build a coalition capable of mounting a stronger challenge to the incumbent government.
“We are talking to other parties, and then we are looking at how to form coalitions, so we are working on that,” he said.
Such an alliance, he argued, would be most effective under UDP leadership. “It makes sense to allow UDP to lead the coalition, and we work together to form a coalition that is going to be even stronger to get this government out with a higher percentage of the vote,” he said.
As the 2026 election approaches, Mr. Manneh’s remarks underscore the UDP’s intent to position itself not just as an opposition force, but as a government-in-waiting.
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