By Alieu Ceesay
In a dramatic, long-anticipated move, renowned Gambian Politician and former presidential aspirant Alhagie Mamadi Kurang on Monday officially joined the United Democratic Party (UDP) at an event held at the Bakau Community Hall.
Kurang, flanked by a jubilant convoy of UDP militants led by Brikama Area Council Chairman Yankuba Darboe, National Assembly Member for Kiang West Lamin Ceesay, and Busumbala NAM Honourable Muhammad Kanteh, marched into the hall to thunderous applause, leaving no doubt about his new political home.
Addressing a room filled with journalists and party supporters, Kurang declared that his primary motivation for joining the country’s largest opposition party is to ensure President Adama Barrow does not secure a controversial third term in the December 5, 2026, presidential election.
“Five years into politics, I have observed and come to the conclusion that the best option to end Barrow’s third-term presidency is the United Democratic Party,” Kurang stated. “In December 2026, it is necessary for every Gambian to stand up and say no to the third term of President Adama Barrow.”
The economist-turned-politician criticised the current administration for failing to tackle pressing national challenges, including rampant illegal migration, soaring inflation, and economic depression. He insisted that these issues demand urgent government attention, which only a UDP administration under party leader Lawyer Ousainou Darboe can deliver.
“So what I am saying is Lawyer Ousainou Darboe is the best person to take The Gambia forward, to bring an end to self-encroachment, and to bring an end to the rule of Adama Barrow,” Kurang asserted.
Kurang, who threw his weight behind the short-lived PSOIS coalition in the 2021 presidential race, urged Gambians to rally behind the UDP in 2026, describing the yellow party as the only viable vehicle for meaningful change.
Welcoming Kurang, Brikama Area Council Chairman Yankuba Darboe hailed the defection as a game-changer. “The coming of Mamadi Kurang will inspire many others to join the UDP,” Darboe said, adding that the party remains the only force capable of ending what he described as systemic mismanagement of state resources.
“Welfare has never been the priority of successive governments. Only the affairs of those working within the state have been prioritised, while the masses are left to fend for themselves,” Darboe charged. He promised that a UDP government would invest not only in infrastructure but, crucially, in the welfare of ordinary Gambians.
Busumbala NAM Honourable Muhammad Kanteh echoed the sentiment, describing Kurang’s decision as “the best towards many important decisions for the development of this country.” He emphasised that Kurang’s renowned expertise in economics will significantly bolster the party’s policy arsenal.
Party supporters erupted in celebration as Kurang was draped in UDP’s iconic yellow colours, sealing his formal entry into the opposition ranks.
Political observers say Kurang’s high-profile defection delivers an immediate morale and intellectual boost to the UDP as it gears up for what promises to be a fiercely contested 2026 presidential election.
With exactly one year to go before Gambians head to the polls, the UDP has sent a clear message: it is ready, reinforced, and resolute in its mission to unseat President Barrow and halt any third-term ambitions.
