Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Former President Yahya Jammeh has set October as the deadline for the formal announcement of the No-To Alliance’s flagbearer for The Gambia’s December 5, 2026, presidential election, as the newly established No-To Alliance Movement Babili Mansa seeks to consolidate its political base.
The development came during the official launch of the No-To Alliance Movement Babili Mansa, which brought together representatives of several opposition parties, including the United Democratic Party (UDP), UNITE, Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) and PDOIS.
Councillor Tijan Manga of Kanilai Ward, speaking at the ceremony, described the movement as representing what he considers the authentic political identity of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC).
The launch also featured a reconciliation statement issued in Jammeh’s name and read by Almameh Gibba, the National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala, on behalf of Interim Party Leader Momodou Yafaye Tamba.
The statement called for the return and reconciliation of several former party members who had previously been expelled, resigned, or otherwise separated from the movement.
Among those named were former nominated member Foday Chorr, Lamin Tamba, Ba Karamo Dampha, Lamin Sanyang, Kebute Badjie, Serekunda West Chairman Amadou Gibba, popularly known as Jola Mansa, and Mrs. Aisha Cole.
The statement said the reconciliation initiative was based on the belief that unity, forgiveness, and reconciliation were necessary for the strength and future of the party and the country.
It acknowledged that political disagreements and circumstances had created divisions within the movement over the years but urged members to put aside personal grievances in the interest of the party and the nation.
“The past must not become an obstacle of the future,” the statement said, while calling on party members to welcome returning members with “open arms, respect, dignity, and brotherhood.”
The leadership also extended the reconciliation call to members who had stepped away, resigned, or remained silent.
It urged supporters to refrain from insults, personal attacks, character assassination, provocative statements, and derogatory language, including on social media and at public gatherings.
The statement warned that members who violated party rules through abusive or derogatory conduct could face disciplinary action under the party’s established procedures.
It said the strength of a political organization should not be measured only by the number of its members but also by its ability to reconcile differences, preserve its values, and provide a common platform.
The launch comes as the No-To Alliance prepares for the December election, with Jammeh expected to determine and announce the movement’s flagbearer in October.
At the close of the reading, organizers reiterated that the message was fundamentally a call for reconciliation, urging supporters to heed the appeal and work towards greater unity ahead of the election.
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