[REVISION HISTORY]

Gambia opposition realignment: UNITE-NUP alliance expands

Updated 9 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-24 15:39 UTC → 2026-09-01 12:13 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The opposition coalition landscape in The Gambia continues to evolve. In late July, the United Democratic Party (UDP) announced its withdrawal from the opposition coalition initiative led by the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD). UDP leader Ousainu Darboe criticized the proposed candidate-led model, arguing it undermines political accountability. While the Coalition Mediation Committee (CMC) initially maintained the UDP was still a participant, the ADD later announced it would back a coalition led by the UDP instead. Simultaneously, President Adama Barrow’s ruling National People’s Party (NPP) strengthened its position by forming a formal alliance with the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC). GDC leader Mama Kandeh announced he would not run in the 2026 presidential race, opting to support Barrow to prioritize national stability. In response to these shifts, the National Unity Party (NUP) and the UNITE Party formalized a Memorandum of Understanding on 4 August 2026. This pact proposes a joint ticket featuring UNITE leader Talib Ahmed Bensouda and NUP leader Dr. Lamin J. Darboe, focusing on the “Three Cs”: cost of living, crime, and corruption. On 19 August 2026, the alliance expanded when the Patriotic Progressive Alliance (PPA), led by Dr. Ousman Gajigo, joined the UNITE-NUP bloc. On 24 August 2026, a pre-election poll ~~released~~ by ~~the civil society group~~ Gambia Participates indicated ~~that~~ President Barrow would lead with 32% support, followed by UDP leader Ousainou Darboe at 25% and UNITE leader Talib Ahmed Bensouda at 19%. The UDP dismissed the poll’s credibility, while UNITE claimed the results show “growing momentum for new leadership.” ~~Meanwhile,~~ President Barrow dismissed emerging opposition alliances as “insignificant.” By 31 August 2026, the UDP challenged the credibility of the voter register, with official Yakumba Jaiteh citing a discrepancy involving approximately 14,000 voters that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has yet to resolve.

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