By Seedy Jobe
Lamin J. Darboe, the leader of the opposition National Unity Party, held his first political rally on Saturday in the coastal town of Gunjur, using the occasion to present himself as a reform-minded alternative and to outline a platform centered on transparency, development, and social inclusion as the country moves toward the 2026 presidential election.
Speaking to supporters, Mr. Darboe criticized what he described as persistent governance failures, pointing to the lack of reliable access to basic services such as clean water in Gunjur decades after independence.
“Sixty years after independence and after three presidents, people here still struggle to access water,” he said. “That is not acceptable. We need a government that prioritizes development and governs transparently.”
Mr. Darboe said his party would place particular emphasis on women’s empowerment and improvements to the health care system, arguing that economic and social progress would remain elusive without the full participation of women and accessible medical services.
“We will give women their rights and empower them to contribute meaningfully to national development,” he told the crowd. “And we will strengthen our health care system so that every Gambian can access quality care.”
Addressing critics who have questioned his age and readiness to seek the presidency, Mr. Darboe dismissed the argument, citing former United States President Barack Obama, who was elected at 47. He suggested that such criticism missed the larger issue of national renewal.
“If someone says I am too quick to run for office, then they are not thinking about what is best for The Gambia,” he said.
Mr. Darboe also pledged to lead an open and accountable administration, promising that government decisions and national affairs would be conducted in full public view. “We want a country where nothing that concerns the nation is hidden,” he said. “Everyone must be treated equally, and everyone must know what is happening.”
In an apparent effort to underscore his commitment to national service, Mr. Darboe announced that he would renounce his dual citizenship within the first six months of 2026, should he remain in the race.
“We want to change the system, not just change the government,” he said. “We want a system that allows us to develop our country in a way no one has imagined before.”
The rally comes as The Gambia enters an increasingly competitive pre-election period ahead of the 2026 presidential vote, with several political figures signaling their intentions to contest what is expected to be a closely watched and highly contested race.