The agreement unites two veteran Gambian politicians with long-standing experience at the highest levels of government. GFA is led by Bakary Bunja Dabo, widely known as BB Dabo, who served as Vice President under former President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara during the First Republic. UDP is headed by A.N.M. Ousainou Darboe, who held the Vice Presidency under President Adama Barrow during the Second Republic from June 2018 to March 2019.
The signing therefore brings together two former Vice Presidents from distinct eras of Gambian political history. Under the terms of the MoU, GFA will support UDP’s presidential candidate, Ousainou Darboe, in the forthcoming polls. The agreement also outlines mechanisms for cooperation and coordination between the two parties during the campaign period.
This development comes amid a wave of political realignments and alliance-building ahead of the 2026 presidential election. The UDP has already engaged in broader coalition efforts, including participation in the Gambia First Coalition.
According to the Independent Electoral Commission’s calendar, the official campaign period will run from November 10 to December 3, followed by a cooling-off day on December 4. Gambians will then head to the polls on December 5 to elect the country’s next president.
The UDP-GFA pact adds another dimension to the evolving landscape of political alliances, underscoring the importance of coalition-building in shaping the contest for State House.
