By: Fatou Krubally
The United Democratic Party (UDP) is marking 30 years since its formation on August 23, 1996, with the party tracing its origins to a group of politicians and citizens who came together following the lifting of Decree 89 under the military government.
The party was formed with lawyer Ousainou ANM Darboe as its Secretary-General and leader, a position he accepted after initially expressing reluctance to enter politics.
According to an account published by the UDP Media and Communications Team, Darboe was first approached about leading a new political formation while visiting his brother in Maryland, United States, in 1996.
He said Alhaji Saikou “Jobe” Kanteh contacted him and informed him that a group of prominent Gambians was looking for someone with the experience and background to lead a new political party.
Darboe initially questioned the proposal, saying he was not a politician and that there were other Gambians who were more suited to the role. However, after returning to The Gambia in July 1996, he was approached again by Kanteh and other prominent figures, including the late Jalloh Sanneh, the late Kebba Tamba Jammeh and the late Sidia Sagnia.
He subsequently consulted members of his family before agreeing to lead the new political formation. Darboe later recalled that several other prominent Gambians had been approached but declined the offer, noting that taking up opposition politics under the military regime required considerable courage.
The UDP’s founding members then worked on the documents and symbols required for the registration of the party. Darboe, drawing on his legal background, was tasked with drafting the party’s constitution
The group eventually settled on the name United Democratic Party, with “Justice, Peace, Progress” as its motto, a handshake as its logo and golden yellow as its official colour. The party was formally registered on August 23, 1996, at the offices of the Provisional Independent Electoral Commission (PIEC) on Kairaba Avenue.
Following the registration, Darboe announced his intention to contest the October 1996 presidential election, beginning his political career as the leader of the newly established opposition party.
The UDP said its formation brought together people from different political backgrounds following the lifting of restrictions on political activity imposed after the 1994 military coup.
The party subsequently became the main opposition force against the Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC), which was formed by the military leadership under former President Yahya Jammeh. Three decades after its formation, the UDP says it continues to identify with the principles on which it was founded, namely justice, peace and progress.
The party is using the anniversary to reflect on its history and the political journey that began on August 23, 1996, while reaffirming its commitment to those founding principles.