[REVISION HISTORY]

Gambia UNITE Party and Coalition 2026 election campaign

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2026-08-08 23:32 UTC → 2026-08-11 01:14 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In mid‑July 2026, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, mayor of Kanifing and leader of the newly formed UNITE Party, addressed supporters in Seattle, outlining the party’s four guiding principles—patriotism, integrity, transformation and equality—and pledging to restore public trust, spur economic development, and make migration a choice. He projected that UNITE would become the country’s largest political force and win the December presidential election, while noting a respectful but political split from United Democratic Party leader Ousainu Darboe. Two days later, Bensouda said UNITE would consider coalition arrangements for the presidential race, but only if they are built on trust, shared values and a common vision. He emphasized governance reforms, poverty reduction, diaspora voting rights, and opportunities for overseas Gambians. Political analyst Lamin Juwara warned that opposition coalition talks were stalled by disagreements over a flag‑bearer, a delay that could advantage incumbent President Adama Barrow and reflect broader insecurity within the opposition. By August 2026, the opposition landscape shifted as Bensouda was named the official flagbearer for the Coalition 2026 alliance. He emerged as the sole candidate for the December 5 presidential election following a turbulent selection process that saw high-profile rivals, including Ambassador Essa Bokarr Sey and Professor Sidat Yaffa, withdraw. The APP-Sobeyaa party, led by Essa Faal, also previously withdrew. In his acceptance speech, Bensouda pledged to uphold the coalition's commitments to constitutional reform, fighting corruption, and national reconciliation, while inviting previously withdrawn parties to rejoin the alliance. Following his selection, coalition spokesperson Assan Martin stated that the group remains flexible and that doors will remain open until the nomination process by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Martin emphasized that the coalition is a long-term political project focused on consensus rather than individual personalities.

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