The Coalition of Progressive Gambians, a non-partisan citizen organisation, has issued a strong call for opposition unity ahead of the 2026 presidential election, urging political leaders to drop partisan interests and rally under the national flag to rescue the country, or miss out.
In a press statement issued yesterday, signed by its secretary general Celestine Kujabi, the group said it speaks not as politicians but as citizens who believe in a leadership that bears the Red, White, Blue, White and Green symbols of the national flag.
In its statement, the group argued that since the country is bigger than any party, the opposition parties, who all claim to want change must stop fighting each other.
‘They are fighting each other more than they are fighting the problems of The Gambia, such as the cost of living, collapsing health system, mass youth unemployment, irregular migration, the abandoned 2020 draft constitution, entrenched corruption and loss of trust in the justice system,” the group said
It went to explain that in 2021, a similar division among the opposition handed President Adama Barrow a second term despite widespread public discontent.
“Five years on, the conditions that forced unity in 2016 against Yahya Jammeh are still around and have worsened. Inflation has eroded wages, with The Gambia now ranked among the lowest-paying countries in Africa,” the group said.
According to Coalition for Progress, no single opposition party has the numerical strength, financial muscle or national coverage to defeat the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) alone.
“The lessons of 2016 are here for all. In that year, Gambians did not unite because they loved each other, no; they came together because they loved The Gambia more than themselves. But in 2021, they were divided and lost the chance to consolidate democratic gains.This year in 2026, history is calling us again. Will we learn or will we repeat the mistakes again?”, the group asked.
The group warned that while the opposition leaders are divided, their supporters are already united in markets, bantabas, garages and on social media, demanding change.
“The market woman, the taxi driver, the farmer, and the student — may not have party membership cards, but they have Gambian blood. They are tired and want change,” the statement said.
Invoking the symbolism of the national flag, the group challenged opposition leaders to prove their patriotism through unity, or step aside.
“If you truly love The Gambia, prove it by uniting. If you cannot unite, step aside for those who can. The Gambia has waited too long. The people have suffered too long. Unite for Change. Unite for The Gambia,” the statement concluded.
