Seven-Group Alliance behind Darboe sparks debate over opposition’s 2026 prospects.

AG Radio’s Sunday edition of Citizen Empowerment brought together political figures, activists and commentators to discuss the formation of the Gambia First Coalition, a new opposition alliance comprising seven political parties and movements that have thrown their support behind the United Democratic Party ahead of the December 2026 presidential election. Guests on the programme included Ousainou Allen, leader of the NAFAA Movement, Halifa Jawara, leader of the One Gambia One Voice Movement; Hagi Sawaneh, the UDP’s National Youth President; and AG Radio panelists namely Bura Dibba, Gibril fadia and Bakary Bah. The discussion focused on the political significance of the new coalition, its prospects ahead of the presidential election, and what the agreement could mean for the wider opposition’s efforts to challenge President Adama Barrow. The Gambia First Coalition was formally established on Friday, August 14, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding bringing together the United Democratic Party (UDP), Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD), Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC), Gambia Alliance for National Unity (GANU), Gambia People’s Alliance Party (GPAP), Gambia Empowerment Project (GEP) and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Five of the participating organisations are registered political parties, while CCC and GEP are taking part as political movements. Under the agreement, the participating groups have endorsed UDP leader Ousainou Darboe as their presidential candidate for the December election. During the Citizen Empowerment programme, guests and panelists shared different perspectives on whether the formation of the coalition represents a significant step towards opposition unity or whether further consolidation will be required to reduce political fragmentation ahead of the election. The discussion also examined the strength the smaller parties and movements could bring to the UDP, the importance of grassroots mobilisation, and the broader challenge of bringing opposition parties with different political interests and strategies under a common platform. At the signing ceremony, Darboe described the agreement as an important political development and said it demonstrated the willingness of the participating organisations to place national interests above individual or partisan considerations. He argued that the memorandum of understanding and the accompanying public pledge showed that organisations with different political traditions could nevertheless find common ground around shared national objectives. The formation of the Gambia First Coalition adds another dimension to an already evolving opposition landscape and raises an important question ahead of December: whether the emerging alliances can translate political agreements into the broader voter mobilisation required to mount a credible challenge for State House. That question remained at the centre of Sunday’s Citizen Empowerment discussion as guests assessed the opportunities, limitations and political implications of the latest opposition realignment.