By Seedy Jobe
Seven opposition parties and political movements in The Gambia formally joined forces on Friday under an alliance led by the United Democratic Party, consolidating support behind Ousainu Darboe ahead of the December 2026 presidential election.
The agreement brings together the UDP and six other groups—ADD, CCC, GANU, GPAP, GEP, and PPP—under the Gambia First Coalition. Five members of the alliance are registered political parties, while CCC and GEP are participating as political movements.
Representatives of the groups signed a memorandum of understanding on Aug. 14, formalizing an arrangement they said was intended to present a united opposition front in the presidential election.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Darboe, the UDP’s secretary general and party leader, described the agreement as a commitment to put national priorities ahead of individual party interests.
He called the occasion historic and said the memorandum and accompanying public pledge represented more than a political agreement, arguing that the partnership demonstrated that groups with different political backgrounds could unite around common principles and objectives.
Although members of the alliance may differ on some issues, Mr. Darboe said, they share the goal of forming a government centered on the priorities and concerns of Gambians.
Mr. Darboe also confirmed that he would be the alliance’s presidential candidate, while calling on the participating groups to approach the campaign as a collective effort rather than one centered solely on his candidacy.
“The candidate’s name is Ousainu Darboe, and the face on the ballot box will be Ousainu Darboe, but each one of you, our trusted allies, is the candidate,” he said.
Mr. Darboe said the alliance remained open to other opposition parties and movements willing to join, framing the coalition as part of a broader effort to bring political change to the country.
The agreement adds another layer to an increasingly fluid opposition landscape ahead of the December election, as political parties and movements seek alliances and negotiate competing efforts to consolidate support against the incumbent government.
Comments are closed.