Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – As the heated public debate over succession within Gambia’s main opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP), escalates, the Brikama Area Council Chairman Yankuba Darboe has doubled down on comments perceived as divisive and sectarian.
In a bold social media post, Darboe called for a “new Gambia” built on “truth and honesty,” emphasizing that uncomfortable truths, rather than public appeasement, must now guide both the party and the nation.
“The next Gambia should be built on the strong foundations of truth and honesty! Only then will it stand tall among nations!” Darboe declared. “No more tales to appease the masses or gallery, but the uncomfortable truth to salvage our party and nation!”
Darboe’s statement follows a growing internal discourse around the UDP’s future leadership and the political viability of different successors to long-time party leader Ousainou Darboe.
The current fissure began with UDP diasporan supporter Nanama Keita’s commentary suggesting that Kanifing Mayor Talib Bensouda presents a more nationally resonant and electable profile than other UDP figures—implicitly challenging Yankuba Darboe’s perceived rising prominence.
On Wednesday, Keita responded to the firestorm his initial post ignited, stating, “The whole thing has nothing to do with my post; my post obviously only ignited what was already burning inside Yanks’ heart. This is a deep-seated hatred that’s been simmering for a while.”
Keita, clarifying accusations of ethnic bias, added, “So the gist of my post was never about a Mandinka being unelectable in Gambia; it was about advocating for a political structure that genuinely resonates with a broader cross-section of the country.”
The political rift appears to hinge not only on ideological divisions but also on questions of loyalty, strategy, and identity within the UDP.
Yunus Hydara, a UDP supporter, sharply criticized what he described as a double standard in how loyalty is measured among party members.
“Talib has refused every offer imaginable from Barrow to leave the UDP,” Hydara noted. “In contrast, Yanks Darboe has now made it clear he will quit the UDP if Talib is selected. These people’s yardstick for trust and loyalty is absolutely flawed.”
The growing divide has raised concerns among seasoned observers about the future unity of the UDP.
Alagie Saidy Barrow, former TRRC lead investigator and political commentator, warned that sidelining Ousainou Darboe in the succession process could be catastrophic.
“Mr. Ousainou Darboe… is the most important thread that holds the fabric of the UDP together,” Barrow stated. “Removing that thread may not destroy the fabric, but it will irreparably tear it apart.”
He advised the party to act strategically, warning that personal ambitions must not override the broader interests of Gambians: “Let the interest of the Gambians be your compass… If everyone is in it for the interest of Gambians… then those eying your leadership should have no issues with co-petition.”
Adding a broader civic perspective, environmental activist Ahmed Manjang issued a sobering warning about leadership transitions: “Great leaders always have a robust succession plan. Average leaders die with their organizations. We have seen this over and over again in this country. We missed a bullet with outright UDP government.”
The UDP appears to be at a critical juncture, torn between preserving the legacy of its veteran leader and charting a new course in anticipation of the 2026 elections.
Yankuba Darboe’s defiance signals deeper dissatisfaction within the party’s progressive ranks, while the pushback from party loyalists underscores a desire to preserve cohesion.
What remains unclear is whether the UDP can mediate these internal frictions and emerge with a candidate capable of uniting its base and appealing to the wider electorate. The real test may not be who leads the UDP—but whether it can remain whole in the process.
