By Haddy Touray

President Adama Barrow has said he intends to defeat longtime political rival Ousainou Darboe in the 5 December presidential election, while praising former presidential candidate Essa Mbye Faal for joining his political coalition.

Speaking at a National People’s Party (NPP) rally in Farafenni on Saturday, Barrow said he believed the growing number of political parties and figures supporting his candidacy demonstrated the strength of his campaign.

Barrow said Darboe could retain his legal career and longstanding political identity but predicted that the United Democratic Party (UDP) leader would end his political career after the December election.

He told supporters that he would force Darboe into retirement from politics, framing the forthcoming election as a decisive contest between the two longtime political rivals.

Barrow also pointed to the size of the Farafenni rally as evidence of his political support and said the opposition leader would