*Opposition Parties, CSOs Deepen Coalition Talks, Set Rules Before Seats* Taskforce named to draft TOR as groups condemn voter registration fraud 26 April 2026. The Gambia’s opposition parties, political movements and civil society groups have moved into the second phase of coalition talks, resolving to put “rules before positions” as they seek a united front ahead of the 2026 elections.The meeting, held Saturday at Baobab Hotel in Bijilo, was hosted by the Gambia Democratic Congress [GDC] and led by the Alliance for Democracy and Development [ADD]. It drew a broad spectrum of political actors including the United Democratic Party [UDP], National Democratic Party [NDP], Unite Movement, National Development Association [NDA], People’s Alliance Party [PAP], Gambia Patriotic Alliance Party [GPAP], and the APRC No-To-Alliance faction, among others.Civil society was represented in both the deliberations and the oversight of proceedings. Mr. Ebrima S. Bah chaired the session while Professor Mballow served on behalf of CSOs as part of an oversight body tasked with ensuring transparency and impartiality.*“Policy, Not Personality”*Parties reaffirmed that worsening economic conditions and what they described as “fraudulent activities” in the ongoing supplementary voter registration exercise demand a united opposition anchored on policy, not personality.“The task before the Taskforce is clear: give us rules we can defend publicly and a plan Gambians can believe in,” said Mr. Bah. “This is no longer about individual parties. Gambians want us to put country first.”Professor Mballow echoed the need for structure: “Civil society is here not to take sides, but to safeguard the process. A coalition without rules is a crisis waiting to happen. Today parties chose rules. That is progress.”*Taskforce to Draft Terms of Reference*A key outcome of the talks was the unanimous nomination of a Taskforce Committee to draft a comprehensive Terms of Reference [TOR]. The committee will be headed by Ebrima Nyang of the GDC and will include representatives from parties, movements, and civil society.The TOR will define the coalition’s framework, structure, and code of conduct. Parties agreed that no discussions on seat allocation or government positions will commence until the document is adopted by the plenary. The draft is expected to be presented at the next adjourned meeting on Saturday, 2nd May 2026.In addition, the parties will jointly issue a press release condemning reported irregularities in the ongoing IEC voter registration exercise, which runs from 8 April to 28 May 2026.*Interim Principles Adopted*Pending the TOR, delegates adopted four interim principles to guide engagement: transparency, proportional responsibility, zero tolerance for hate speech among partners, and public disclosure of all agreements.ADD leader Hon. Malick Camara, who serves as spokesperson for the coalition talks, said the process remains a collective effort. “We thank GDC for hosting and all parties for the discipline shown. We will not betray this moment with secret deals or public insults. The TOR will be our contract with each other – and with The Gambia.”The group extended appreciation to Baobab Hotel for the venue and urged supporters to “remain peaceful, avoid tribal rhetoric, and await the outcome of the Taskforce’s work.”The Baobab meeting marks the second round of opposition coalition talks following an initial exploratory session earlier this month. The push for unity comes as the IEC continues its supplementary voter registration, an exercise that has drawn criticism from opposition groups over alleged underage registration and other irregularities.If successful, the coalition would present the most consolidated opposition front since the 2016 election that ended Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule.

Reports From The Gambia Opposition Parties