By: Alieu Ceesay
The Coalition Taskforce Mediation Committee (CTMC) has renewed its call for consensus and binding commitments among opposition parties, as high-stakes talks aimed at forging a united front ahead of the December Presidential elections gathered momentum on Saturday.
The committee’s 5th strategic session, held on 16 May 2026 at the Baobab Hotel in Kololi and hosted by the Gambia Movement for Progress (GMP), brought together leaders and representatives from 16 opposition parties and political movements, as well as civil society stakeholders. With discussions now entering a more advanced stage, participants are under increasing pressure to translate encouraging progress into concrete agreements that can deliver a winnable candidate capable of governing The Gambia effectively.
CTMC Chairman Prof. Mballow, who opened the session, described the momentum as positive but warned that the time for decisive action had arrived.
“Our interest is to produce a candidate for Gambians who can win and govern The Gambia productively. I urge all parties to unite around that goal,” Prof. Mballow said.
He reiterated the committee’s role as a neutral mediator committed to ensuring fairness and transparency. Prof. Mballow also disclosed that a draft Code of Conduct had been prepared and was awaiting formal adoption by participants. The proposed code is designed to safeguard the integrity of the process by preventing insults, leaks, and other actions that could sabotage the coalition-building efforts.
“A draft Code of Conduct has been developed to prevent insults and leaks intended to sabotage the talks,” he added.
Hosting the meeting, Prof. Yaffa of the GMP welcomed delegates and emphasized the need for mature, issue-based engagement.
“We should allow decent, issue-based debate and work toward positive outcomes,” he said.
CTMC Secretary Mr. Ebrima S. Bah presented the minutes of the fourth strategic session, previously hosted by APP Sobeyaa at Sarge’s Hotel in Senegambia. The minutes were adopted without amendment.
Key agenda items during Saturday’s meeting included a detailed briefing on the draft Code of Conduct, reports from consultations with other coalition groups, a revised calendar of activities, and contributions from participating parties on the proposed coalition framework. After extensive deliberations, members reached an agreement that the Coalition Framework would be formally adopted at the upcoming sixth strategic session.
The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, 23 May 2026, again at the Baobab Hotel in Kololi, and will be hosted by the People’s Alliance Party (PAP). Expectations are high that the session will mark a significant step forward in coalition-building efforts.
Political observers view the ongoing talks as a critical attempt by Gambian opposition forces to overcome fragmentation and present a cohesive challenge in the country’s evolving political landscape. With the adoption of both a Code of Conduct and a comprehensive Coalition Framework on the horizon, stakeholders hope the process will culminate in a unified opposition strategy that resonates with ordinary Gambians seeking effective and productive governance.
