‘You Are Just Like the Rest of Them’: Gambian Artist Hussein Dada Criticizes Essa Faal in Open Letter

By Seedy Jobe

Gambian artist Hussein Dada has publicly criticized Essa Faal, expressing disappointment with the APP-SOBEYAA leader after his party announced that it had reached an agreement in principle to form a political alliance with the ruling National People’s Party.

APP-SOBEYAA said in a statement on Monday that it had reached a preliminary agreement with the NPP on a proposed alliance, though discussions and consultations were still underway.

The party said consultations were continuing internally and with its prospective alliance partner. It added that the date and details of any formal alliance announcement would be made public after consultations with supporters and other stakeholders had concluded.

Shortly after the announcement, Dada published an open letter addressed to Faal, saying he had once regarded him as the candidate he believed in most ahead of the 2026 presidential election.

“Among all the candidates for the 2026 election, I believed in you the most, and that is why your recent decisions have hurt me the most,” Dada wrote.

Dada said that although his personal interactions with Faal had been brief, he had long admired his political vision and believed he could bring meaningful change to the country if elected.

He said the prospect of an alliance with the NPP had changed that view.

“You are just like the rest of them, willing to sell the country out for personal gain rather than put the interests of the nation first,” Dada wrote.

Dada did not provide evidence in the letter to substantiate his allegation that Faal was motivated by personal gain, and APP-SOBEYAA’s statement described the proposed alliance as still subject to consultations.

The artist said he and other Gambians were deeply disappointed by the development and suggested that Faal’s decision would not be easily forgotten or forgiven.

Dada concluded the letter by wishing Faal well in what he described as his “next chapter.”