By: Kemo Kanyi
Lawyer Lamin J. Darboe has announced his intention to take part in a coalition of political actors and play an influential role ahead of the 2026 presidential elections.
Mr. Darboe made this revelation during a televised interview over the weekend on Teledal TV. Commenting on the possibility of joining the incumbent, he said he is uncertain whether he could influence the direction of the current administration, adding that it would be disappointing to join any political party without being able to influence its course.
“You never say never in politics. That’s difficult for me, obviously. I don’t know what will happen. What I know is that we are talking to people going into 2026. So, I will be part of a coalition that will present a major challenge to any player, including the incumbent,” he stated.
Mr. Darboe said the country is experiencing a very unsettled political climate and urged the government to do more to persuade citizens to have a favourable view of its administration.
He noted that many national challenges remain unaddressed, arguing that the government’s focus has been largely on infrastructural development. He emphasized that the funds used for such projects belong to the Gambian people.
“Those are public funds. They don’t belong to the president,” he stressed.
According to him, the legacy of President Barrow’s administration will be determined not by its infrastructural achievements but by how it handles governance.
The respected lawyer further states that governance remains the biggest problem in The Gambia. He argued that unless the presidency leads efforts to address governance issues, the country will remain unsettled.
“If he’s unable to do that, then he’ll leave no legacy. The roads are not legacies. The buildings are not legacies. Governance means restraining yourself, looking at yourself, and asking whether you are doing the right thing,” he maintained.
Mr. Darboe concludes by saying that good governance is what differentiates successful nations from failed ones, emphasizing that no human being is superior to another.