Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – President Adama Barrow’s call on imams to stay away from politics has fallen on deaf ears. In a move signaling growing public discontent with traditional politics, Imam Musa Jallow of Latrikunda Sabiji has announced the formation of a new political party, the Reform and Development Party (RDP).
The party, which is in the process of registering to contest the 2026 presidential elections, promises to break from the country’s entrenched political establishment that has failed to address key challenges facing Gambians.
Imam Musa Jallow, a familiar face to those going to Friday Prayers at the Tallinding Islamic Institute mosque, holds a master’s degree in political science (He freshly graduated in February, this year).
He speaks five languages, and said his leadership role as an imam does not define the party’s religious agenda. Instead, he sees the RDP as a platform for all Gambians, regardless of background, to participate in shaping the nation’s future.
“The current political system requires to be changed for the better,” he told The Standard, underscoring the need for participatory politics.
The formation of the RDP comes amid frustration with the country’s traditional political parties, which have yet to agree on a new constitution to replace the one tailored by former dictator Yahya Jammeh.
Despite the end of Jammeh’s repressive rule in 2017, the 1997 Constitution—which centralizes power in the presidency—remains in force, hindering meaningful political reform.
Efforts to replace it have repeatedly stalled due to partisan disagreements, reflecting the inability of the country’s main parties to unite on a national agenda.
Jallow’s criticism of rampant corruption and the high cost of living echoes widespread sentiments that successive governments, including President Adama Barrow’s, have failed to deliver on their promises of change.
“This current government has no solution to tackle these challenges,” he said, calling for a broad coalition of parties to unseat Barrow in the next election.
The emergence of an imam-led political movement resonates with recent regional trends, such as in Mali, where Imam Mahmoud Dicko’s political activism has captured popular support.
Like Dicko, Jallow’s dual role as a religious leader and a reform advocate can appeal to Gambians who feel left behind by the political elite and disillusioned by decades of broken promises.
In contexts where mainstream parties seem incapable of addressing bread-and-butter issues—like poverty, corruption, and governance—religious leaders who articulate a vision of inclusive politics can draw significant followings.
Yet, challenges remain. The experience of Mali shows that while religious legitimacy can mobilize grassroots support, it also raises questions about balancing faith-based moral authority with democratic principles in a state where multiple religious faiths have cohabitated peacefully.
Imam Jallow is adamant that the RDP is not an Islamic party but a national movement for social justice and political reform.
As the RDP prepares for registration, Imam Jallow’s call for a united opposition coalition also harks back to the 2016 coalition that ousted Jammeh—though he warns against repeating the same mistakes.
Whether his message of collective action will resonate with established opposition parties and disaffected voters remains to be seen. But in a political landscape where traditional parties are viewed as self-serving, his arrival may offer fresh hope for those who see in his moral leadership a path to genuine change.
