By Haddy Touray
The Team Gambia 2026 initiative has formally established the Team Gambia Grand Coalition 2026 following a five-hour national conference held in Banjul on 12th September, according to a statement issued by its coordinators.
The initiative, coordinated by Halifa Sallah and Sidia Jatta, said the conference brought together political parties, political movements, civil society organizations, independent aspirants and concerned citizens following a nationwide consultative process that began on 2 March 2026.
The coordinators said the consultation, which ended on 26 August, involved stakeholders from different political, social and professional backgrounds.
A preliminary report presented at Paradise Suites on 29 August indicated that representatives of 13 political parties, eight political movements, eight civil society organisations and 22 individual academics, professionals, trade unionists, business leaders, religious leaders and persons with disabilities participated in the consultation.
The organisers said the exercise was independently conducted and was not affiliated with or influenced by any political party or grouping.
Coalition established
The national conference reviewed and adopted a draft coalition agreement after group discussions and plenary deliberations.
Participants subsequently signed the agreement or recorded their reservations.
According to the coordinators, the conference adopted the name Team Gambia Grand Coalition 2026.
Two women, Mariama Khan and Victoria Chizoba Okwuanalu, were elected to assist the coordinators. The organisers said additional representatives, including a male and female youth representative and a male and female representative of persons with disabilities, would be appointed after the outstanding representation gaps are filled.
Members also agreed to submit names for the various structures of the coalition on the basis of equal participation and representation.
The coordinators said participants agreed that the outcome of the conference was the product of a collective consultative process and should not be claimed by any individual or political party.
Roles and objectives
Under Article 1 of the coalition agreement, Team Gambia 2026 is intended to provide a platform for consultation with civil society and other stakeholders on national priorities while bringing together political parties, political movements, independent aspirants and concerned citizens to select and support coalition candidates during the 2026-2027 electoral cycle.
The agreement also provides for forums covering the presidential, National Assembly and local government levels.
The coordinators said members had agreed that these forums would tour the country to explain the coalition’s objectives to voters before the selection of candidates.
They said the approach was intended to allow citizens and stakeholders to engage with the coalition’s program before flagbearers are selected.
The coalition agreement provides that it will take effect upon signature by participating stakeholders.
It also describes the coalition as a transitional administration for the tenure of its presidential, National Assembly and local government representatives, with the coalition to be dissolved after completing a five-year mandate aimed at creating what its organisers describe as an even ground for multiparty competition.
Next steps
The coordinators said the coalition’s immediate priorities include establishing its structures and working relationships among its constituent members and adopting a draft manifesto by 30 September.
A debriefing session with stakeholders was scheduled for 19th September, followed by a press conference on 20th September.
The coalition also plans a nationwide tour covering the North and South Banks, West Coast Region, Kombo and Banjul from 2 to 16 October.
According to the statement, the tour will be used to explain the coalition’s objectives to the electorate before the selection of its presidential flagbearer.
The selection of the presidential flagbearer is scheduled for 17-30 October, according to the coordinators.
The original signatories listed by the organisers include the Democratic Party, Gambia Action Party, National Democratic Party, National Unity Party and People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism, alongside several political movements, civil society organizations, an NGO, independent aspirants and individual citizens.
The organisers said the All People’s Party-SOBEYAA was still awaiting a promised signature from Maila Touray at the time of issuing the statement.
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