As The Gambia approaches its December 2026 presidential election, the country’s opposition landscape is marked by fragmentation, raising questions about its ability to mount a credible challenge to the incumbent.
In a recent opinion piece for The Standard Newspaper, Dr Omar Janneh argues that the proliferation of parties and movements, combined with a political culture focused on pageantry rather than policy, threatens to undermine the opposition’s effectiveness.
Dr Janneh contends that the current political theatre is crowded with actors whose commitment and capacity to lead are unconvincing. He observes that serious campaigning on substantive policies is rare, with parties instead preoccupied with hurling vitriol at one another.
He also points to a worrying trend in political discourse: the language of “investment.” He suggests that when politicians frame their time and money spent building a movement as an investment, it implies an expectation of return, which he views as deceitful to the electorate.
The piece also levels criticism at both journalists and voters. Dr Janneh argues that journalists often fail to probe assertions and ask necessary follow-up questions, while the electorate has become accustomed to a transactional form of politics.
He describes a culture of “pay-to-participate,” where supporters are paid for attendance and transport, which he says distorts political engagement and reduces citizenship to a commodity.
The central concern of the commentary is the strategic cost of disunity. Dr Janneh argues that if the opposition remains fragmented, no single force may command sufficient electoral strength to defeat President Adama Barrow.
He calls for political maturity and pragmatism, suggesting that serious opposition actors must be willing to make uncomfortable choices, set aside grievances, and work with people they may not like to form a broad coalition or alliance.
He cautions, however, that any alliance must be based on a programme for governing rather than a bargain over political spoils.
He warns that a coalition built on expectations of cabinet positions or rewards could prove fragile and lead to a bloated government.
He also notes the considerable power the Gambian political system places in the hands of the president, who can replace ministers with relative ease, making post-election coalition discipline a challenge.
Dr Janneh concludes that the opposition faces a historic choice: continue fighting among themselves over ownership of the opposition space, or recognise that none of them, acting alone, may be capable of delivering the political change they claim to seek.
He argues that the responsible course is to develop a clear understanding of the political dilemma and to prove their commitment to the country by forming a grand alliance based on a governing programme.
He ultimately places responsibility on Gambians as well, stating that the country cannot keep electing politicians on the basis of personality and empty promises and then act surprised when the system produces disappointing outcomes.
Source: The Standard Newspaper