Three prominent Gambians living in the diaspora have issued a passionate open letter calling on the country’s fragmented opposition parties to forge a grand coalition for the December 2026 presidential election, warning that continued division risks handing the incumbent another victory.
In their appeal dated May 7, 2026, Lamin Yusupha Jammeh in the United Kingdom, Sarjo Barrow, Esq., and Dr. Lamin Keita in the United States, together with other anonymous concerned Gambians abroad, urged leaders of major opposition parties to set aside personal and partisan interests for the sake of national renewal.
The letter is addressed to veteran politicians, including Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Halifa Sallah of the People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), Sedia Jatta, Mama Kandeh of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), and other figures such as Suwaibou Touray, Lamin J. Darboe, Bakary Bunja Darboe, Essa Mbaye Fall, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, and Ousman Madikay Fall. It also copies Professor Yero Mballow, Chairperson of the opposition coalition taskforce, and Ebrima Bah, Secretary General of the Coalition Mediation Committee.
The authors, who describe themselves as respectful observers shaped by the 2016 coalition that ended former President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule, paint a sobering picture of the current political landscape. They highlight rising inflation, the high cost of living, persistent corruption concerns, and a deepening public frustration with the pace of democratic reforms under President Adama Barrow.
“Today, once again, the country stands at a crossroads, one that demands not only political calculation, but statesmanship, foresight, and a legacy-minded sense of responsibility,” the letter states.
The diaspora voices argue that the opposition’s greatest historical weakness has been fragmentation, not a lack of popular support. They recall the triumph of the 2016 Coalition, which succeeded despite ideological differences, but note that subsequent disunity has eroded the opposition’s credibility. With an estimated 30 to 40 percent of voters still undecided and new political parties emerging, the risk of vote-splitting is acute, they warn.
“History cautions us that the opposition’s greatest vulnerability has never been a lack of public support, but fragmentation,” the letter reads. “The lessons of past elections are clear: a divided opposition risks splitting the vote and inadvertently strengthening the incumbent.”
The appeal goes beyond mere electoral arithmetic. It calls for a coalition anchored in conviction rather than convenience, with a clear governance program centered on institutional reform, the establishment of presidential term limits, the strengthening of democratic institutions, and the restoration of public trust. The authors stress that such a coalition must include transparent decision-making, mechanisms for conflict resolution, and active participation from civil society to guarantee accountability.
They acknowledge the difficult compromises required, particularly the selection of a unity candidate “who commands broad trust across party lines and is seen as independent of narrow partisan interests.” Pooled resources, a coordinated campaign strategy, and a unified message to the electorate are deemed essential to counter the advantages of incumbency and state resources.
The letter strikes a respectful yet urgent tone toward the older generation of leaders, whom it credits with decades of sacrifice. “Your generation of leadership carries a unique and irreplaceable responsibility. You have seen yesterday, you understand today, and you possess the wisdom to anticipate tomorrow,” it says, while noting that younger actors can bring fresh energy.
The signatories caution against repeating the mistakes that followed the 2016 victory, when coalition agreements were perceived by some as unevenly implemented. They suggest that civic society, regional bodies such as ECOWAS, and the international community could act as “guardrails” to ensure any new coalition honors its commitments without granting an unfair advantage to the candidate’s original party
Political analysts in Banjul say the timing of the appeal is significant. With less than eight months until the election, opposition parties have so far shown limited progress toward a unified front. Several smaller parties and movements, including the National Unity Party (NUP), Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) factions opposed to an alliance with Barrow, and others such as PPP, PAP, and UMC, are also addressed in the letter.
Public sentiment in The Gambia remains mixed. While many citizens credit the Barrow administration with maintaining relative stability and some infrastructure gains since 2017, dissatisfaction over economic hardships, youth unemployment, and allegations of governance lapses has grown.
Recent surveys and street conversations suggest a strong desire for change, but skepticism about the opposition’s ability to work together persists.
As the political temperature rises, all eyes will be on how the named opposition leaders respond. Whether this latest call from the diaspora catalyzes genuine coalition-building or becomes another footnote in The Gambia’s recurring story of fragmented opposition remains to be seen.
