After Jammeh lied to The Gambians that they were “soldiers with a difference” who came to restore sanity in public service and return to barracks, he reneged on his promises, promoted himself to colonel in the army and resigned to present himself as a civilian aspirant for the presidency. He thought he had planned his… Continue reading What really is UMC’s messaging strategy?
As we head into the 2026 presidential election period, there is general agreement that the Barrow administration is inept and continues to poorly manage the affairs of The Gambia with exceedingly high prices, high unemployment rates and failure across the board exacerbated by inadequate or dysfunctional institutions, and rampant corruption. As an incumbent, which is… Continue reading The debate on winnability
There is a whole lot of talk about the need for a coalition in 2026, that is an excellent proposal. If for no other reason, we need unity of purpose to end the nightmare that the average Gambian family lives through daily. But the critical question remains, what foundation should such a coalition be built… Continue reading Framing a coalition for 2026
New ideas can be exciting; they fuel enthusiasm especially when there is a need for change. But change always meets resistance leading to the emergence of factions. When the initial enthusiasm dies down and the real work of marching towards that change begins, the challenges reveal themselves. Not unlike more advanced democracies like the US… Continue reading Can unity be achieved ahead of 2026
As the Gambia's largest opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP) is set to conclude its ongoing process to select a candidate as flagbearer for the upcoming presidential elections in 2026, all eyes are on the party and who they would unveil as flag bearer. As we write this article, three people have emerged as… Continue reading The UDP flagbearer – When reverence and loyalty clash with popularity and ambition
Are Gambian voters moved by issues? - Part 2 Read part one here With Jammeh defeated and exiled after a two decade stranglehold on The Gambia, the persecuted population would finally have some insights on how much he abused his powers and the consequences for the country and his countless victims. As promised on the… Continue reading Buildup to 2026
Are Gambian voters moved by issues? Sir Dawda K. Jawara In July 1986, a new political party; the People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) hit the political stands of The Gambia. By this date, The Gambia had been independent from British colonial rule for just over two decades. Since the country became independent… Continue reading Buildup to 2026
With scale, every organization faces new challenges alien to its organizational culture. The prospect for conflicts, and actual conflict increases and interactions of individuals within the group become more complex. As that happens, trust diminishes, suspicions around each other’s ambitions increase. This fact about group dynamics has manifested itself within the United Democratic Party (UDP)… Continue reading UDP’s Leadership Crisis: Implications for Gambia’s Future
With The Gambia’s simple majority electoral system, unseating an incumbent is a monumental task. In clear violation of the law, incumbents had and still utilize state resources to boost their chances against opponents. It has been the key instrument in Jammeh’s arsenal and worse under current president Adama Barrow. But in a country where the… Continue reading Coalition 2026?
It is customary that during Eid celebrations, Muslim religious leaders pay a visit to the seat of power at State House where they meet with the president and some within his cabinet. Such visits are in line with tradition and customary practices within the Gambian cultural set up when people visit each other, pray for… Continue reading A tyrant’s desire
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