By: Haddy Touray
The United Democratic Party (UDP) has strongly condemned what it described as “reckless and inflammatory” comments made by Minister Demba Sabally, following his public declaration that he would ensure President Adama Barrow’s re-election in 2026 “even if it means shedding blood.”
In an official statement released on Wednesday, the UDP said the remarks were not only irresponsible but posed a direct threat to The Gambia’s peace and democratic values. The party called the comments a “blatant violation of the oath of office” and urged President Barrow to publicly distance himself from such violent rhetoric.
“As a sitting minister of the Republic, Sabally’s statement incites violence, undermines the integrity of our electoral process, and betrays the obligation to serve all Gambians not partisan interests at any cost,” the statement read.
The UDP maintained that Gambians have endured enough from past political violence and warned against a return to fear-driven politics. It called on national institutions, including the Independent Electoral Commission and the National Human Rights Commission, to denounce any normalization of violence in the country’s political discourse.
“We call on President Barrow to publicly denounce this dangerous rhetoric and hold his minister accountable,” the UDP said. “Gambians must reject fearmongering and demand accountability from those entrusted with power.”
The statement also urged the international community to monitor what it described as “rising threats to democracy” in The Gambia.
Despite the controversy, the UDP reiterated its commitment to peaceful, transparent, and issue-based elections in 2026. “We remain fully committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting the democratic space that Gambians fought so hard to secure,” it concluded.