Key members of the CHANGE Coalition have granted themselves a two-week window to settle remaining differences in their draft agreement, delaying a final deal until the end of the month.
Following lengthy talks on Sunday, 16 August 2026, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APP Sobeyaa), Gambia for All (GFA), Tabax Rewmi and the United Democratic Party (UDP) announced they would pause formal proceedings. The extension allows informal bilateral discussions to clear unresolved matters in the coalition agreement.
The parties confirmed that bilateral talks with other political actors remain open. They formally acknowledged the UDP’s newly announced alliance and welcomed the party’s renewed pledge to build a broad-based, inclusive coalition that benefits all participants and the wider public.
The group plans to reconvene on Sunday, 30 August 2026, to conclude the APeX-facilitated negotiations. Stakeholders stressed the need for timely progress and committed to using every reasonable consultative channel over the next fortnight so the process can move into its next substantive phase.
The APeX Initiative first brought the parties together in early 2025 after preparatory work that began in April 2023. Negotiations have continued despite the National Unity Party’s (NUP) decision to leave and pursue a separate path. Organizers thanked all remaining participants for the effort invested so far.
In a joint statement, the parties recognized strong public interest in the talks and appealed for continued patience from Gambians as they address the final issues. They described the shared objective as a mutually beneficial coalition that can serve the national interest.
The two-week pause marks the latest adjustment in a process that has already stretched for more than a year, underscoring both the complexity of the talks and the remaining parties’ determination to reach consensus.
