By Binta Jaiteh
The Gambia Sustainable Environment Movement (GSEM) has rejected claims that it has joined the United Movement for Change (UNITE) or endorsed its flagbearer, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, following the conclusion of the opposition coalition selection process.
In a statement, the movement said its executive decided not to join UNITE after observing the withdrawal of several political leaders from the coalition process.
GSEM said it had participated in the coalition talks as a collaborator but expressed concern over what it described as shortcomings in the process, including the conditions and criteria established for selecting a flagbearer.
The movement said the outcome of the talks did not, in its view, reflect the level of unity expected among some of the political actors involved in or represented during the negotiations.
“Political leaders that bailed out cannot be wrong in their observations, and failing to consider those observations show emerging flaws that stain the process. Our presence was to accompany the process as collaborators, but the end doesn’t justify the means,” the statement said.
GSEM further denied giving its consent to join the coalition under Bensouda’s leadership and said it had not endorsed him in any capacity.
The movement called on the UNITE leadership to publicly clarify what it described as a misrepresentation of its position.
“We respectfully ask their team to clarify that claim to the public and remove our movement’s name from their website and the list of movements that are claimed to have endorsed him,” GSEM said.
The movement reiterated that its participation in the coalition discussions should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the eventual flagbearer or an indication that it had joined UNITE.
The development comes amid continuing realignments among opposition political parties and movements ahead of The Gambia’s 2026 presidential election.
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