Coalition 2026 on Thursday formally brought together opposition parties and political movements under a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening their cooperation ahead of The Gambia’s December 5 presidential election.
The agreement was signed at Penchami Hall at the Paradise Suites Hotel, where leaders of participating parties and movements gathered alongside prominent opposition figures to mark what coalition leaders described as a significant step toward greater unity within the opposition.
Leaders said the agreement marked the beginning of a new phase in opposition politics, built around cooperation, national unity and a shared vision for The Gambia’s future. Representatives of the participating groups also pledged to strengthen their collaboration as the election draws closer.
Accepting his nomination as the coalition’s flag bearer, UNITE party leader and Kanifing Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda stressed that the alliance must remain bigger than any individual leader or political organisation.
“As your flag bearer, I will work to ensure that this coalition remains bigger than any individual, including myself,” Bensouda said. “I will listen. I will consult. I will respect our partners.”
He said the coalition’s success would depend on compromise, patience and trust, arguing that political leaders must be prepared to put aside personal ambitions when necessary in pursuit of the national interest.
According to Bensouda, the mandate being sought by Coalition 2026 ultimately belongs not to its leaders but to the Gambian people.
He also highlighted the growing participation of young people and women in the coalition, saying their involvement reflected a demand for a political system focused on delivering meaningful improvements in people’s lives rather than relying on political slogans.
Bensouda cited official statistics indicating that 57 percent of Gambians aged between 15 and 35 are economically inactive, while only 42 percent participate in the labour force.
He further pointed to significant gender disparities in labour-force participation. Women, he said, account for 41.9 percent of labour-force participation, compared with 54.9 percent for men.
The coalition flag bearer also noted that 78 percent of working women are employed in the informal sector, where they earn an average of D31.50 per hour, compared with D42.40 for men.
Bensouda argued that The Gambia cannot realise its full economic potential without creating greater opportunities for young people and women to participate meaningfully in the economy.
With the December 5 election approaching, Coalition 2026 now faces the challenge of translating its agreement into a unified political campaign capable of maintaining cohesion among its diverse membership while convincing voters that the alliance offers a credible alternative to the incumbent government.
