Bundung councillor vows ward‑wide peace campaign ahead of 2026 election

By Alieu Jallow

Bundung Borehole Ward Councillor Lamin Darboe has pledged to lead a ward‑wide civic engagement drive to promote peaceful coexistence and tolerance ahead of The Gambia’s December 2026 presidential election.

Darboe made the commitment during the Influencer and Stakeholder Capacity‑Building Training organised by the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) under the EU‑UNDP GREAT Project Initiative, telling The Fatu Network he would focus on educating residents about election laws and the need to accept results.

“I’ll engage my people on the laws and regulations of the country and the upcoming election. We are one people irrespective of tribe or religion. During our social events, you can’t distinguish one tribe from another or one religion from another. I’ll continue to preach peace and help people understand that during the upcoming election we should remain peaceful and accept whoever emerges victorious,” he said.

The training, themed “Strengthening Influencer Networks for Inclusive Civic Engagement and Sustainable Outreach,” aims to equip youth leaders, women’s groups, religious figures, civil society organisations, social media influencers and political representatives with tools to counter misinformation and promote responsible public discourse.

Ansumana Ceesay, NCCE programme manager, said the initiative seeks to build a long‑term civic culture and warned that elections can fuel misinformation and hate speech.

“Democracy thrives when citizens are informed, engaged, and committed to resolving differences through dialogue rather than division. A total of 495 participants are expected to benefit from this training, drawn from influential voices, youth leaders, women’s groups, religious leaders, CSOs, social media influencers, representatives of political parties, and politicians. This broad coverage reflects our commitment to inclusivity and nationwide engagement,” he said.

Ceesay added the programme stresses tolerance, respectful dialogue and responsible communication to protect peace and ensure credible, inclusive elections.

Darboe’s pledge underscores the role local leaders play in safeguarding social cohesion as the country prepares for the presidential vote.