In his resignation letter, Tombong Saidy expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him during his years of service, where he held key positions including Administrative Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Administrative Secretary for Media and Communication. He described his decision as guided by principle, stressing that he could not continue in a party that overlooks what he sees as the transformative leadership potential of Mayor Bensouda.
“My decision to resign is rooted in a profound belief in the direction and future leadership of The Gambia,” Saidy wrote. “Talib Bensouda possesses the vision, integrity, and capability to lead not only the UDP but the entire nation. However, the party’s current trajectory does not align with this belief.”
Similarly, Baboucar Jammeh, widely known as Loppy, tendered his resignation after nearly three decades of membership since the party’s founding in 1996. He said his loyalty to the UDP had always been rooted in its original values of justice, democracy and unity but noted that recent developments had made it impossible for him to remain.
Jammeh condemned what he described as “a troubling pattern of injustices, marginalization, and open insults” directed at Mayor Bensouda and other reform-minded members, warning that such actions betray the trust of thousands of UDP supporters seeking renewal and unity.
“I cannot in good faith continue to serve in a party environment where those who bring new ideas and genuine commitment to national renewal are vilified rather than supported,” Jammeh declared.
Both men reaffirmed their loyalty to the Gambian people, pledging to continue working with others who share the vision of building a just, inclusive, and prosperous nation.
Their resignations have come at a critical time for the UDP as it positions itself ahead of the 2026 elections, with internal divisions over leadership and direction increasingly spilling into the public domain.
