Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The United Democratic Party (UDP) has reportedly withdrawn from the ongoing 2026 Coalition Talks, marking a significant development in efforts by opposition parties to explore a united front ahead of The Gambia’s presidential election.
According to sources familiar with happenings during the meeting, UDP representatives Lamin Manneh and Lare Ceesay informed delegates that the party had decided to pull out of the negotiations because the coalition’s direction no longer aligned with the UDP’s position.
The announcement reportedly came after a discussion on compliance with the coalition’s Code of Conduct.
The debate was triggered by concerns from some delegates over recent public statements by UDP folks that were viewed as condescending toward fellow coalition members.
Delegates Appeal for UDP to Stay
Sources said several participants urged the UDP representatives to remain in the meeting so the concerns could be discussed further.
However, Lamin Manneh reportedly told delegates that there was no need for further discussion because the decision to withdraw had already been made by the party leadership.
Lare Ceesay also reportedly rejected suggestions that the UDP had violated the coalition’s Code of Conduct. He maintained that the party’s public statements had remained consistent with its official position. Following his remarks, several other delegates reportedly raised their own concerns about conduct within the coalition.
Withdrawal Announced During Meeting
According to sources, Lamin Manneh was not present at the beginning of the meeting but arrived later during the discussions. After briefly consulting with Ceesay, he requested the floor and informed delegates that the coalition’s current direction was no longer compatible with the UDP’s position.
He reportedly stated that the withdrawal was made on the instructions of the party leadership before leaving the meeting together with Ceesay.
Sources said other delegates again appealed to the pair to remain and allow further discussions on the matter, but Manneh reportedly declined, insisting that the withdrawal was a final party decision.
The UDP’s exit represents a setback for the coalition talks, which have been aimed at bringing opposition parties together ahead of the 2026 presidential election. As of the time of publication, the UDP had not publicly issued an official statement explaining its decision to withdraw from the negotiations.
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