Former Vice President Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang has withdrawn her bid for the December 2026 presidential election, saying she will instead focus on helping to unite The Gambia’s opposition ahead of the polls.
The announcement was made during a coalition meeting last week, where Tambajang informed opposition leaders of her decision to step aside from the race and dedicate her efforts to facilitating coalition-building.
Explaining her decision, Tambajang said her commitment to securing a better future for Gambians outweighed any personal political ambition.
“My desire to see a better Gambia for the next generation is far greater than any personal ambition. Today, our country needs unity more than it needs individual aspirations. I believe I can best serve The Gambia by helping to build the coalition that our people deserve,” she said.
Tambajang, who played a key role in the Coalition 2016 alliance that united opposition parties and ended former President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule, said she would now serve as a mediator and facilitator in the coalition process.
In that role, she said she would work to bring opposition parties together, encourage dialogue, and help ensure the process remains transparent, credible and inclusive.
She urged opposition leaders to approach negotiations with humility and a willingness to compromise in the national interest.
“No single party can win this election alone. If we enter the December polls divided, we risk placing The Gambia back on the same path that we fought so hard to leave behind just ten years ago,” Tambajang said.
She added that her focus is now on creating the conditions for a united opposition capable of restoring public confidence in the country’s democracy.
Tambajang also argued that political office should never be viewed as an entitlement, saying governments that fail to improve the lives of citizens should be held accountable through the ballot box.
She reaffirmed her commitment to serving as an impartial facilitator throughout the coalition-building process, insisting that the interests of Gambians would remain at the centre of discussions as the country prepares for the December 2026 presidential election.
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