Gambia's UDP Threatens to Leave Opposition Coalition Talks

Lamin Manneh, the United Democratic Party’s Deputy Administrative Secretary for External Affairs, warned that the UDP could withdraw from ongoing opposition coalition negotiations if the participating parties reject a party‑led coalition model. Manneh argued that a coalition should reflect the relative electoral strength of its members, noting the UDP received about 238,000 votes in the 2021 presidential election, far more than other opposition groups. He criticised the candidate‑led approach, saying it weakens the UDP’s position and citing the 2016 election as an example where a candidate‑led coalition forced the UDP’s leader to run as an independent. The UDP, along with the Alliance for Democracy and Development, People’s Progressive Party, People’s Alliance Party and Gambia Action for National Unity, supports a party‑led coalition, while the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction, Gambia Democratic Congress and UNITE Party favour a candidate‑led process. Manneh said the push for a candidate‑led model appears designed to place the UDP in a minority role during talks.