“A SECOND CHANCE FOR CHANGE”: STAKEHOLDERS ENDORSE TEAM GAMBIA 2026 COALITION AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Representatives of political parties, political movements, civil society organizations, and prominent citizens gathered Saturday at Paradise Suites to validate the report of the Team Gambia 2026 Initiative, a six-month consultative process on coalition building ahead of the 2026 elections.
The report was presented by co-coordinators Hon. Halifa Sallah and Hon. Sidia Jatta. Participants received it with keen interest and debated its content with what was described as enthusiasm, frankness, and sobriety.
No Level Playing Field
The stakeholders unanimously accepted that a level ground currently does not exist in The Gambia for holding the free, fair, and genuine multi-party contest needed to deliver the undiluted choice of the people.
They equally noted that the self-perpetuating rule which Coalition 2016 sought to end by limiting the tenure of its flagbearer has gained new life. This, they said, is due to the total failure or blatant refusal to undertake even the most basic constitutional reforms, including the introduction of executive term limits, since 2016.
Call for Inclusive Transition
To reset the political system after the 2026 Presidential Elections, stakeholders recognized that all Gambians at home and abroad who love their country must join hands. The goal is to work as a team to salvage the country from self-perpetuating rule by putting in place an inclusive transitional government.
That government, they agreed, should exist only to deliver quality public services and to level the ground for electoral contests through time-bound constitutional and institutional reforms for the common good.
September 12 National Conference Approved
In that spirit, participants unanimously endorsed the recommendation to convene a National Conference of willing stakeholders on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The conference will craft an agreement to establish Team Gambia 2026 as a coalition under Section 155 of the Elections Act, and will also deliberate and approve a time-bound workplan and program for the 2026 electoral cycle.
Sector Forums to be Created
Once established, Team Gambia 2026 will break into sector forums to ensure broad participation. These include the Presidential Forum, National Assembly Forum, Mayors’/Chairpersons’/Councillors’ Forum, Expert Bank Forum, Farmers’ Forum, Workers’ Forum, Youth Forum, Women Forum, Persons with Disability Forum, Diaspora Forum, and TRRC Victims’ Forum.
The forums will be commissioned to articulate sector demands and urgencies to inform the coalition’s manifesto and programs. Other committees will serve as oversight to ensure advocacy and implementation of all agreements, policies, and programs.
The statement concluded: “It has dawned on all participants that only an organized leadership and people can ensure that a coalition or a government exists for them and not for a few. As we prepare for September 12, we hope all Gambians at home and in the diaspora will seize this historic initiative to bring about change for the common good. Forward with Team Gambia 2026!”
