The Coalition Mediation Committee (CMC) has suffered a major setback after its Vice Chairperson, Momodou Satou Dibba, resigned with immediate effect over disagreements about the voting system used in the opposition coalition talks.
In a resignation letter addressed to CMC Chairperson Prof. Yerro Mballow, Dibba said he could no longer remain part of the mediation process because of irreconcilable differences over the coalition’s leadership structure and decision-making mechanisms.
Dibba said the CMC had recommended a weighted voting system that would take into account the size, organisational strength and past electoral performance of each political party.
However, participating political entities instead adopted a “one-entity, one-vote” mechanism, giving all parties equal voting power regardless of their political weight.
“The CMC advised weighted voting, which recognises the relative sizes of different political entities, but the majority of the political entities in the talks opted for a one-entity, one-vote mechanism,” Dibba wrote.
He argued that the voting system ultimately led to the adoption of a candidate-led coalition, a model he believes does not adequately reflect the principles that should underpin the alliance.
A retired United Nations governance and political affairs expert, Dibba said recent developments had made reconciliation unlikely, prompting his decision to step down.
“Rather than continuing to engage with a process I do not believe in, I herein respectfully end my role as Member and Vice Chairperson of the CMC with immediate effect,” he stated.
Despite his resignation, Dibba reaffirmed his support for opposition unity, saying he remains willing to participate in future coalition efforts that recognise party size, organisational presence, past electoral performance and other relevant factors.
His resignation comes amid growing divisions within the opposition coalition talks, following the recent withdrawal of the United Democratic Party (UDP), and is expected to further complicate efforts to build a united front ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
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