By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
In the wake of a turbulent week for Gambia’s main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), staunch supporters have rallied behind party leader Ousainou Darboe, framing the mass resignation of key executives as an anticipated purge of “Talib Bensouda loyalists” rather than an existential threat.
The departures, triggered by the Kanifing Municipal Council Mayor’s abrupt withdrawal from the 2026 presidential flagbearer race, have exposed deep fissures within the party but elicited defiant optimism from the rank and file, who insist the UDP remains unshakeable in its quest to unseat President Adama Barrow next year. The crisis erupted on September 6 when Talib Ahmed Bensouda, a rising star and the party’s National Organizing Secretary, announced his exit from the leadership contest via a video message. Citing loyalty to Darboe and a desire for “decent politics,” Bensouda stepped aside but also tendered his resignation from his executive role, stating that Darboe “will need an organizing secretary whom he will trust and who can deliver to his expectations.”
His decision, praised by Darboe as a “difficult but honourable” one, nonetheless ignited speculation of a broader schism, with UDP insiders warning of potential defections. The dominoes fell swiftly. On September 11, Yahya Karafa Sonko, the party’s National Campaign Manager and a founding member since 1996, resigned in a poignant letter, lamenting that the UDP had “lost its way” and no longer aligned with its principles of democracy and justice. Sonko, who had helmed the Coalition 2016 campaign that propelled Barrow to power before the president’s defection to form the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), cited irreconcilable differences over the party’s direction. His predecessor, Momodou Sabally, had already jumped ship to the NPP earlier this year. The resignations snowballed.
Tombong Saidy, the UDP’s communications and media secretary and a veteran holding roles like Administrative Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, penned a letter expressing “profound belief” in Bensouda’s vision for a “just, inclusive, and prosperous” Gambia. “Talib Bensouda possesses the vision, integrity, and capability to lead not only the UDP but the entire nation,” Saidy wrote, decrying the party’s failure to embrace fresh ideas. Babucarr Loppy Jammeh (also known as Baboucar Jammeh), the Deputy Campaign Manager, echoed this sentiment, stating he could not remain in a party that “vilifies” committed reformers.
Malick Sowe, another executive member, and several lower-tier officials followed suit, with reports suggesting up to a dozen departures in total, many tied to Bensouda’s camp. Supporters, however, view these exits not as a hemorrhage but as a cleansing. “It’s not surprising but expected,” declared Karamo Njie, the UDP’s Public Relations Officer for the North Bank Region (NBR).
Speaking to TAT on Saturday, Njie expressed “mixed feelings” but framed the resignations as a recurring motif in the party’s resilient history. He recalled President Barrow’s 2016 resignation from the UDP – after the party groomed him as its candidate – which “woefully failed to destroy” the opposition. Njie also invoked the late Lamin Waa Juwara, a “strong pillar” whose mid-career exit in pursuit of personal ambition “crumbled along the way” without denting the UDP’s momentum. “For me, I just want to say a big thank you to all the executive members who resigned and those waiting for their time because Talib Ahmed Bensouda has not been selected as UDP flagbearer,” Njie said. “These are people who served the party, and resigning is a big loss, but not surprising at all. I can openly state that leaving UDP will have little or no impact on our support base.”
He urged Bensouda backers to heed the “lessons” of Barrow and Juwara, whose “popularity and influence far outweigh those resigning today.” Far from weakening the party, Njie argued, such departures “will only strengthen and empower” it. “If anyone is in UDP because of Talib Bensouda, he will follow him, but the real supporters will never go an inch.” Veteran UDP stalwart Dudu Kassa Jaata amplified this narrative, calling the resignations “widely expected within the rank and file.”
In an interview from his Bakau base, Jaata dismissed fears of damage, pointing to a litany of past exits that failed to hobble the party. He listed Barrow’s defection, the resignation of former Brikama Area Council Chairman Sheriff Sonko, UDP Regional Chairman for Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), and West Coast Unda Nyang, Lamin Jatta, and eight sitting National Assembly members – all of whom departed without “causing much harm.” “UDP is a party blessed with the prayers of the founding fathers,” Jaata asserted.
“Anyone who thinks that resignation of these so-called executives will put UDP in harm’s way must be joking.” Jaata painted a picture of an indomitable force: “The President Adama Barrow left us after making him what he is today – it doesn’t harm us. More than eight MPs, chairmen, and others from the diaspora, but UDP is still the biggest and most populous political party in the country.”
He issued a clarion call to “diehards and supporters” to “stick together and move on to achieve our common goal of ending this corrupt regime.” To those on the fence, he appealed: “Come on board because it’s only the UDP that can effect any change of regime in the country.”
The sentiment of resilience was echoed by Hon. Madi Ceesay, National Assembly Member for Serekunda West, who urged “closing ranks” for unity. “It’s only through unity that UDP can effect the change that the Gambian people yearn for in 2026,” Ceesay told a gathering of militants on Friday. He advocated grace toward the departed: “Respect the decision and thank those resigning – they have served in their capacity. Leaving to join other political camps should be taken in good faith, without malice.”
Analysts see Bensouda’s exit as a “missed opportunity” for renewal, potentially signaling deeper malaise in Gambian opposition politics.
Yet for grassroots loyalists, it’s a mere speed bump on the road to 2026. With the NPP touting economic gains amid inflation woes, the UDP’s ability to heal these wounds will test its claim to be The Gambia’s unassailable alternative. As Jaata put it, the party’s foundation – forged in 1996 against Yahya Jammeh’s dictatorship – is too solid to crack.
