Representatives of political parties, movements, civil society groups and concerned citizens on Saturday, August 29, 2026, validated a coordinators’ report on a six-month consultative process aimed at building a broad coalition known as Team Gambia 2026.
The gathering at Paradise Suites received the report with interest and discussed its findings with frankness. Participants agreed that The Gambia currently lacks a level playing field for free, fair and genuine multi-party elections. They also noted that the self-perpetuating rule Coalition 2016 sought to end by limiting its flagbearer’s tenure has continued because of the failure to introduce even basic constitutional reforms, including an executive term limit, since 2016.
Stakeholders concluded that after the 2026 presidential election, the country needs a clean slate. They called on Gambians at home and abroad who want to serve the public to work together to end self-perpetuating rule. The assembly endorsed the idea of an inclusive transitional government whose sole purpose would be to deliver quality public services and create a level electoral field through time-bound constitutional and institutional reforms.
Those present unanimously backed a recommendation to convene a National Conference of willing stakeholders on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The meeting would craft an agreement to establish Team Gambia 2026 as a coalition under section 155 of the Elections Act and approve a time-bound work plan for the 2026 electoral cycle.
Once formed, the coalition would create specialized forums, including a Presidential Forum, National Assembly Forum, local government forum, Expert Bank, Farmers’, Workers’, Youth, Women, Persons with Disability, Diaspora, and TRRC Victims’ forums. These bodies would gather sector demands to shape the coalition’s manifesto and later oversee implementation of agreements and policies.
Participants stressed that only organized leadership and citizens can ensure a coalition or government serves the many, not the few. Coordinators Halifa Sallah and Sidia Jatta expressed hope that Gambians would seize the initiative “to try for a second time to bring about change for the common good.”
