The Gambia: Political tensions rise ahead of 2026 elections

As the December 2026 presidential election approaches in The Gambia, political competition is intensifying among various factions. Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the Coalition 2026 presidential candidate and Mayor of Kanifing, has outlined several key policy proposals. These include a tuition financing scheme for University of The Gambia students to allow for repayment after employment, improved public transportation to the Faraba campus, and the withdrawal of the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) to ensure national security is managed exclusively by Gambian forces.

Bensouda has also criticized President Adama Barrow for allegedly diminishing the development legacies of former presidents Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara and Yahya Jammeh. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Party (NDP) leader Kebba Madi Bojang has urged residents in Basse to vote against the current administration, alleging that government land acquisition policies threaten to convert ancestral farmlands into state reserves.

In contrast, the Citizens Alliance (CA) has reaffirmed its support for President Barrow. Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, leader of the CA, pledged the party’s commitment to the grand alliance led by the National People’s Party (NPP), citing significant infrastructure, education, and healthcare achievements under the current leadership.