(KIANG KWINELLA, The Gambia) – The leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Ousainou Darboe, has strongly criticized President Adama Barrow over his recent speeches. Speaking at the inauguration of the UDP Bureau in Kiang Kwenilla, Darboe accused the president of inciting violence by encouraging his supporters to engage in physical confrontations.

“President Barrow advising his supporters to fight means he has nothing,” Darboe declared. He emphasized that the UDP will not initiate conflict but will defend themselves if attacked. “What the law calls self-defense, we will do that,” he asserted.

Darboe warned that if President Barrow continues to push his supporters to fight, he should be prepared to stand alongside them. “To say you are the president and you are pushing your supporters to fight, you should also expect to stand for your people, and physically you will also be part of that fight, and we shall see who will be victorious,” he cautioned.

The UDP leader reiterated that the law empowers citizens to protect themselves and urged his supporters to respect the law and avoid being provoked into violence. “For those who want to bring conflict on us, whatever power they have in response to that to protect themselves, the law gives them that power to defend themselves,” Darboe noted.

Darboe also addressed the security forces, particularly the Gambia Police Force, advising them not to be used as instruments to create conflict against UDP members. He stressed the importance of impartiality in their duties, highlighting the close familial ties between President Barrow and the Inspector General of Police (IGP). “I am advising you not to bring politics into your work, and the IGP has a heavy task as the whole world is watching because President Barrow’s sister is married to him,” Darboe said. “He needs to be very careful, let no one perceive his actions as favoring his in-law.”

In his speech, Darboe reminisced about his past confrontations with former President Yahya Jammeh, emphasizing his commitment to self-defense. “I told Yahya Jammeh before in Numuyel when they were troubling my people there, I said that we will defend ourselves in the right way to protect ourselves,” he stressed.

Darboe also criticized President Barrow’s recent statements regarding national infrastructure and services. He highlighted the historical establishment of key hospitals and health centers long before Barrow’s presidency. “The Bansang Hospital was built in 1939, Banjul Hospital, Farafenni, and Bwiam Health Centre, Basse Health Centre as well as Essau Health Centre were all built before anyone could think there would be someone on this earth named Adama Barrow,” Darboe said.

He accused President Barrow of misusing national resources, citing the construction of a police station in the president’s village using funds from the Port Authority. “The president said that is his station, but other than that, he has no other station in the country,” Darboe added.

Drawing parallels to the end of Yahya Jammeh’s era, Darboe suggested that Barrow’s behavior signals the nearing end of his leadership. “When Yahya Jammeh’s era was about to end, he was saying ‘my country, my nation,’ and at the end, he was out of power,” Darboe concluded.

The UDP leader’s remarks reflect the rising political tensions in The Gambia as the country navigates its transitional justice program and prepares for upcoming elections.