As The Gambia moves steadily towards the December 2026 presidential election, the opposition faces a defining moment. The coalition talks, launched with the promise of presenting a united alternative to the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), have instead exposed familiar divisions over leadership, strategy and political ambition. Recent developments, including disagreements over selecting a flag bearer and the withdrawal of key participants from the talks, have raised serious questions about whether the opposition is prepared to place national interest above partisan calculations.
History offers an important lesson. In 2016, opposition parties set aside their differences and united behind a single candidate. That unprecedented cooperation ended 22 years of authoritarian rule and demonstrated that compromise is possible when leaders focus on the country’s future rather than personal political fortunes.
Today, however, the atmosphere appears markedly different. Public exchanges, competing claims to leadership and deep mistrust risk undermining the very objective the coalition was created to achieve. While every political party has the right to pursue its own interests, the electorate expects leadership, maturity and a willingness to compromise.
Coalitions are never easy. They require sacrifice, trust and respect for agreed rules. No single party, regardless of its size or popularity, can claim exclusive ownership of the opposition space. Likewise, smaller parties must recognise political realities and negotiate in good faith.
Ultimately, the greatest losers from a fractured opposition are not the politicians themselves but Gambian voters, who deserve a genuine democratic choice based on ideas and policies rather than political infighting.
The coming weeks will determine whether opposition leaders can rise above personal ambitions and rebuild confidence in the coalition process. If they fail, responsibility for any electoral consequences will rest not only with individual parties but with all those who allowed division to triumph over unity.
The Gambia deserves an opposition capable of inspiring confidence, offering credible alternatives and demonstrating that national interest will always come before political ambition.
About the Author
