Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – In a decisive move to stabilize and re-energize its base following recent internal fractures, The Gambia’s ruling National People’s Party (NPP) has appointed Momodou Sabally as its new National Youth President.
The appointment, announced Thursday in a statement signed by senior party official Seedy SK Njie, comes amid growing efforts by the party to reassert control and momentum after the high-profile defection of Kebba Madi Bojang and his allies, who recently launched the breakaway National Democratic Party (NDP).
Sabally, the former Secretary General and Presidential Affairs Minister under President Yahya Jammeh and, more recently, a deputy campaign manager for the NPP, is now tasked with leading the party’s youth mobilization and engagement efforts.
His new role is particularly significant as the NPP grapples with the vacuum created by Bojang’s exit – a development that saw the departure of a number of grassroots militants, especially among the youth ranks.
The NPP described the reshuffle as a strategic realignment designed to consolidate the party’s grassroots structures and youth wing ahead of what it termed “upcoming national engagements,” a likely reference to the 2026 general elections.
Observers say Sabally’s elevation sends a clear message on two fronts: a renewed emphasis on youth empowerment within the NPP and a bold signal to the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), where Sabally was once a senior executive member before defecting to the ruling camp.
His ideological shift – from a vocal UDP stalwart to a pro-Barrow strategist – symbolizes not only political fluidity in The Gambia’s current political landscape but also the NPP’s calculated bid to neutralize opposition influence and pull support from across the aisle.
By positioning Sabally at the helm of its youth operations, the NPP aims to galvanize a generation that has proven increasingly politically active, especially in urban and peri-urban constituencies.
His oratory skills, populist appeal, and experience with political messaging make him a potent asset in rebuilding the party’s youthful base following internal fractures.
The reshuffle also included other key appointments: Abdoulie Cham was promoted to Deputy National Campaign Manager, while new faces like Yusupha Jammeh of Tanjeh and Lamin Saho were assigned to lead youth communications.
Party leader President Adama Barrow, in the statement, extended his congratulations to the new appointees and called on all NPP members to offer their “full support and cooperation.”
The timing and scope of these changes underscore a broader recalibration within the NPP in the face of emerging political threats and internal instability. The Bojang-led defection has not only exposed ideological tensions within the party but also tested its capacity to retain loyalty among younger militants.
As the NPP seeks to mend its ranks, Sabally’s ascension is likely to be closely watched—not only for how he reengages disaffected youth but also for how effectively he counters the narrative being built by Bojang’s breakaway NDP.
Whether this reshuffle will succeed in blunting the momentum of internal dissent and opposition resurgence remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the NPP is recalibrating for a more contested and youth-driven political future.
