Gambia's United Democratic Party pulls out of opposition coalition talks
The United Democratic Party (UDP) announced that it is withdrawing from the opposition coalition initiative that was launched by the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) to contest the 2026 presidential election. Party leader and Secretary‑General Ousainu Darboe said the coalition’s candidate‑led model – in which a candidate would resign from their party and run as an independent – undermines constitutional order, political accountability and democratic legitimacy, and the UDP prefers a party‑led approach.
The Coalition Mediation Committee (CMC) responded that it has not received any formal letter of withdrawal from the UDP and therefore continues to list the party as a participant in the talks. CMC chairman Prof. Yerro Mballow emphasized that without an official notice the committee cannot confirm the party’s exit.
Darboe countered that the UDP never needed to send a withdrawal letter because the party was never invited to the talks by the CMC; the invitation came from the ADD. He noted that a coalition spokesperson had said parties not accepting the proposed model should “go away,” which Darboe interpreted as an acknowledgement that the UDP is no longer part of the effort.
Entities: Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) · Coalition Mediation Committee (CMC) · Ousainu Darboe · Prof. Yerro Mballow · United Democratic Party (Gambia)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The coalition’s proposed model is candidate‑led, requiring candidates to resign from parties and run as independents. (Coalition proposal description)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The coalition was initiated by the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) and includes eight political parties and 14 civil society organisations. (Coalition description)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] UDP leader Ousainu Darboe says the party is no longer part of the coalition initiative. (Ousainu Darboe press briefing)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Coalition spokesperson Martin said parties that do not accept the model should go away. (Comments quoted by Ousainu Darboe)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The United Democratic Party announced its withdrawal from the opposition coalition talks. (UDP press conference statement)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] UDP rejects the candidate‑led model and supports a party‑led coalition. (UDP leader Ousainu Darboe)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Coalition Mediation Committee has not received an official withdrawal letter from UDP. (CMC chairman Prof. Yerro Mballow)