By: Alieu Ceesay
In a significant development for The Gambia’s opposition landscape, the Unite Movement for Change (UMC) and the National Unity Party (NUP) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, establishing an alliance intended to challenge incumbent President Adama Barrow in the December 6 presidential election.
The signing ceremony took place amid a charged atmosphere, with supporters of both parties filling the hall to the sound of traditional drums. Leaders of the two movements, accompanied by their supporters, entered the venue together, signaling a united front after years of separate political paths. Both party leaders had previously been strong supporters of other opposition groups before forming this partnership.
Lamin J. Darboe, leader of the National Unity Party, expressed strong confidence that the newly formed alliance would secure victory at the polls. He urged supporters to remain united and reject any form of political instability that could undermine their efforts. Darboe described the gathering as one that would “shake the State House,” declaring that the movement would grow “from strength to strength.”
He called on alliance supporters to actively mobilize citizens across the country to join the coalition. Darboe assured Gambians that the alliance would prioritize respect for citizens and their protection. “Together we would uplift this country and respect citizens and protect them,” he said.
The NUP leader further pressed the current government to establish systems that promote accountability. He pledged that under the alliance’s leadership, there would be no victimization of citizens. “We will not abuse citizens of this country, and those victimized would be given their due,” Darboe stated. “If this is the vision of anyone, you should join this Alliance.”
Darboe extended an open invitation to other opposition parties to join the coalition, describing it as a platform to lead meaningful change in 2026. Alliance officials promised a vigorous nationwide campaign to promote their agenda and maximize voter turnout.
Talib Ahmed Bensouda of the Unite Movement for Change emphasized that the agreement represented far more than a simple memorandum of understanding. “This Alliance is more than a signing of a memorandum of understanding. It is a declaration that two political parties can come together not because they agree on everything, but because they agree on fundamental principles that must guide the country,” he said.
Bensouda paid tribute to his counterpart, stating: “I am honored to stand alongside His Excellency Lamin J. Darboe, a distinguished lawyer, statesman, and a leader whose unwavering commitment to constitutionalism and justice has strengthened our democracy. This MOU is not founded on political convenience or electoral arithmetic.”
He explained that the alliance’s campaign would focus on what officials describe as the “three Cs”: cost, crime, and corruption. “While today’s memorandum of understanding is built upon constitutional principles, it is ultimately about improving the lives of ordinary Gambians,” Bensouda added.
No candidate has yet been selected as the alliance’s presidential flagbearer. Officials indicated that the process of choosing a leader would follow further consultations.
Women leaders from both parties also addressed the gathering, underscoring the importance of female participation. Ajaratou Mam Fatou Nyassi, National Women Mobilizer for the NUP, declared that the alliance had come “to salvage this country.” She raised concerns about insecurity, asking, “We can go out because we are not safe, and so how long would this insecurity last?”
Matty Kanyi, National Women’s President of Unite, urged Gambian women to vote wisely and support the UMC-NUP candidate. She drew parallels with the past, saying, “Gambian women, we must be ready to change the government as we did in 2016.”
Ebrima Dibba, National President of Unite, assured Gambians of better governance under the alliance’s leadership, pledging improved accountability and service delivery.
The signing marks one of the more formal attempts by opposition parties to consolidate ahead of the December election. Whether the alliance succeeds in attracting additional parties and translating its message into electoral success remains to be seen, but Tuesday’s ceremony has clearly raised the stakes in The Gambia’s unfolding political contest.
