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By: Dawda Baldeh
Gambia’s opposition parties, political movements, and civil society organizations have taken a significant step toward forming a unified coalition, holding their second round of talks on Saturday at the Baobab Hotel in Bijilo.
The meeting, hosted by the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) under the initiative of the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) and in collaboration with civil society groups, brought together a broad cross-section of political actors seeking common ground ahead of future political engagements.
Representatives from the United Democratic Party (UDP), GDC, ADD, National Democratic Party (NDP), Unite Movement for Change, National Development Association (NDA), People’s Alliance Party (PAP), Gambian People’s Advancement Party (GPAP), and APRC No-To-Alliance were in attendance. APP SOBEYA, led by Essa Faal, was absent due to prior political commitments in Foni but reaffirmed its commitment to the process.
The session was jointly chaired by Ebrima S. Bah and Professor Yero Mballow, representing civil society organizations tasked with overseeing transparency and impartiality in the negotiations.
Participants unanimously appointed Professor Yero Mballow as Chairperson of the process, formalizing a role previously overseen by Bah.
A multi-party task force committee was also established to draft a comprehensive Terms of Reference (TOR), which will define the coalition’s framework, structure, and code of conduct.
Speaking after the meeting, Ebrima Bah, the coalition representative said, “This process is grounded in trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to national development. We are determined to build a coalition that reflects the will of the people.”
The group adopted a set of interim principles to guide the discussions, including “transparency, proportional responsibility, zero tolerance for hate speech among partners, and full public disclosure of all agreements.”
Organizers emphasized that these principles would serve as the foundation for ongoing negotiations and help ensure public confidence in the process.
The meeting was adjourned with an agreement to reconvene on Saturday, 2nd May, 2026, with the next session to be hosted by the United Democratic Party. The venue is expected to be announced in the coming days.
Ebrima S. Bah, Secretary of the Coalition Mediation Committee, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to advancing the talks.
“This is a collective effort to strengthen democracy and deliver credible leadership,” Bah stated.
