The ongoing efforts to forge a broad opposition coalition ahead of The Gambia’s 2026 presidential election have suffered another setback after the Alliance for Patriotic and Progressive Sobeyaa (APP Sobeyaa) withdrew from negotiations facilitated by the APeX Initiative.
APP Sobeyaa formally communicated its decision to withdraw in a letter dated 6 September 2026. According to APeX, the letter was received by email at 4:23 a.m. GMT on 6 September, roughly 12 hours before the final scheduled negotiation session.
The development has triggered a public disagreement over the circumstances surrounding APP Sobeyaa’s departure, with APeX moving to challenge the reasons contained in the withdrawal letter after a copy began circulating online.
In its response, APeX acknowledged that participation in coalition negotiations is voluntary and said APP Sobeyaa had every right to withdraw from the process.
However, the coalition initiative strongly disputed the explanation given for the withdrawal.
APeX took particular issue with suggestions that the negotiating parties had disagreed over power-sharing arrangements, as well as claims that changes had been introduced into the draft coalition agreement in violation of procedures previously agreed upon by the negotiating parties.
APeX described those claims as inaccurate and said they did not represent the actual state of the negotiations.
The initiative said it had formally communicated its concerns to APP Sobeyaa through a separate letter. It maintained that throughout the negotiation process, APeX had sought to adhere to established principles, ethics, policies and procedures.
“APeX wishes to make a simple clarification that what is in APP Sobeyaa’s letter as reasons for withdrawing is not factual,” the initiative stated.
The dispute comes at a sensitive moment for opposition parties seeking to overcome longstanding divisions and present a united political alternative ahead of the December 2026 presidential election.
The withdrawal of another political grouping from a coalition process could raise fresh questions about whether opposition parties can overcome disagreements over leadership, power-sharing and the terms of a possible electoral alliance.
Despite rejecting APP Sobeyaa’s account, APeX said it would not engage in a prolonged public dispute over the matter.
The initiative instead thanked Gambians for their patience and continued commitment to efforts aimed at building what it described as a better Gambia.
APeX also expressed appreciation to the Gambian public for its support, trust and confidence in the coalition initiative.
The latest development leaves the opposition coalition-building process facing renewed scrutiny, particularly over whether the remaining parties can resolve their differences and establish sufficient trust to enter the 2026 election as a united force.
