Gambia's Talib Bensouda open to trust‑based coalitions for 2026 election

Talib Ahmed Bensouda, leader of The Gambia’s Unite Party, said the party is willing to consider coalition arrangements for the 2026 presidential election, but only if they are built on trust, shared values and a common vision. He stressed that any partnership should focus on governance reforms, poverty reduction and improving the lives of ordinary Gambians, rather than merely serving as a vehicle to unseat the incumbent administration. Bensouda also pledged to secure voting rights for the Gambian diaspora and to create opportunities for overseas Gambians to contribute to national development.

Political analyst Lamin Juwara warned that the broader opposition coalition is stalled by disagreements over the selection of a flag‑bearer. He noted that the coalition missed its deadline to announce a candidate, a delay that could benefit President Adama Barrow. Juwara argued that internal insecurity and the inability of larger parties to guarantee smaller parties’ interests are undermining the coalition’s cohesion ahead of the election.