Unite sets out election platform

The Unite Movement for Change launched its manifesto at a Thursday rally in Banjul, where leader Talib Ahmed Bensouda presented the Coalition 2026 campaign as an alternative to President Adama Barrow’s administration. Party officials criticised the government’s handling of irregular migration and broader governance issues, according to The Alkamba Times.

Bensouda pledged to introduce presidential term limits and a new constitution if elected. He argued that Barrow had failed to deliver constitutional reform promised in 2016 and said The Gambia remained governed under laws enacted during Yahya Jammeh’s rule.

Security and protest rights enter campaign

Bensouda also promised to put national security in the hands of Gambian forces, alleging that foreign involvement extended into sensitive areas of governance and security. He said Gambian soldiers would provide his personal protection if he became president. His economic proposals included requiring office furniture to be produced locally rather than imported.

At the Banjul rally, Bensouda asserted that Gambians could hold peaceful demonstrations outside State House without a police permit, citing constitutional protections for assembly, association and expression. Kerr Fatou separately reported the candidate’s claim about the right to protest at State House.

Election commission advances final register

Independent Electoral Commission chairman Joseph Colley said most cases from the recent voter-registration exercise had been resolved by the Revising Courts, with the remaining proceedings expected to conclude in the coming days. Once magistrates sign the registers, the commission plans to apply the court decisions, finalise the voter roll and provide it to political parties as required by law.

The commission also promised parties electronic copies of the master register and supplementary register. United Democratic Party representative Lamin Manneh called for the full register to be released for scrutiny, arguing that access was necessary to build confidence in the election. The commission said it would comply with all Revising Court orders and assess polling stations nationwide, with more stations planned for voters added during the 2026 supplementary registration exercise.