Africa-Press – Gambia. The Secretary General and party leader of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), Lawyer Ousainu ANM Darboe, has reaffirmed his intention to contest the presidency, citing enduring national challenges that, he says, necessitate his continued participation in the country’s political leadership.
In an exclusive interview with Think Africa on Friday, April 3, 2026, Mr. Darboe pledged to deliver meaningful change in The Gambia, highlighting persistent issues such as poverty, inequality, and poor governance.
Explaining his decision to run again after multiple previous bids, Mr. Darboe stated that the conditions that motivated his first presidential contest in 1996 remain largely unchanged.
“I’m standing now because the circumstances that led me to contest in the 1996 presidential elections still exist. It would be a default on my part if I do not again respond to the call by the Gambian people—by the majority—to seek this high office,” he said.
He added that the presidency provides a critical platform to shape governance, noting that his background as a human rights lawyer would influence his approach to leadership.
“This office, which of course controls everything, because as a holder of that high office, my credentials as a human rights lawyer will really be stamped on the administration of this country,” he added.Mr. Darboe criticized what he described as a disconnect between political leaders and the general population, accusing those in power of prioritizing personal comfort over national development.
“Our political leaders, our leaders, they live flamboyant lifestyles; they live extravagant lifestyles at the expense of the ordinary people of the Gambia. Instead of our meager resources being properly harnessed and being properly used for the good of the common man, our resources are used to really pamper those in office,” he asserted.The UDP leader outlined four key priority areas for his prospective administration: constitutional reform, economic development, civil service reform, and security sector reform.
On constitutional reform, he emphasized the need to replace the current legal framework, which he argued is rooted in the country’s past military rule.
“We cannot continue to be governed by the constitution that the military dictatorship imposed on us. We have also amended it about 52 times just to ensure that the regime is self-perpetuated. We want to address that,” he said.
Mr. Darboe also pledged to revitalize the economy and strengthen public institutions, including reforms in both the civil service and the security sector.
In a notable commitment, he reiterated his long-standing pledge to serve only a single five-year term if elected.
“I want them to give me a five-year mandate, and I will seek no other mandate. That is what I asked the Gambian people to do,” he said.
He explained that this promise dates back to his initial candidacy in 1996 and remains unchanged.
“You see, if you go back to 1996, that was the promise I had given to the Gambian people when I was much younger. That was the promise I had given to the Gambian people that gave me the mandate, and I will serve only for five years,” he emphasized.
Mr. Darboe expressed confidence that key reforms could be achieved within a single term, particularly constitutional and security sector reforms.
“I certainly believe that the three areas can be completed within that five-year period, i mean, to give the Gambian people a constitution, that shouldn’t take more than three years. To carry out a genuine and effective security reform, sectoral reform should not take more than four years, he said. “I can assure you that within five years, I will address these three major areas, and then the reforms will continue to be carried out by my successors.”
