Africa-Press – Gambia. Former Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang has officially declared her intention to contest The Gambia’s 2026 presidential election, positioning herself as a challenger to incumbent President Adama Barrow, her former political ally.
Tambajang made the announcement during the Sahel Governance Forum, according to Kexx News, where she underscored the importance of women embracing leadership roles in national and regional governance. “Women should not shy away from leadership,” she said, as the forum focused on advancing women’s leadership for inclusive governance across the Sahel.
A Veteran of Gambian Politics
Tambajang has had a long and influential career in Gambian politics and public service. Early in her career, she served as chair of the Gambia National Women’s Council and as an advisor to the country’s founding president, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, during the early post-independence era.
Following the July 1994 coup that brought the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council to power, she was appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare, a post she held from 1994 to 1995.
Decades later, Tambajang reemerged as a key political figure, playing a pivotal role as the chairperson of the opposition coalition that united against former President Yahya Jammeh in the 2016 election, ultimately leading to the victory of Adama Barrow.
She was appointed vice president in January 2017, but her swearing-in was initially delayed due to constitutional age restrictions. She first served as Minister of Women’s Affairs, overseeing the Office of the Vice President, before being formally sworn in as Vice President in November 2017, following constitutional amendments.
Tambajang’s candidacy sets the stage for a high-profile political contest in 2026, where she is expected to leverage her decades of experience in governance and advocacy for women’s leadership to challenge her former boss.
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