Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia
By Buba Gagigo
President Adama Barrow has claimed that Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), along with other party leaders, would be imprisoned if it weren’t for the democratic values and tolerance in The Gambia.
Speaking to the NPP media in his hometown of Mankamang Kunda on Tuesday, during his one-month vacation, Barrow responded to recent criticisms from Darboe, who returned to the country on Monday and condemned Barrow’s administration.
“Since I became president eight years ago, no journalists have been jailed at Mile 2, no politicians or civil society members have been imprisoned. We sometimes question people, but that’s different from taking them to court and sentencing them. Our report shows that without strong democracy and tolerance in The Gambia, many UDP leaders, including Ousainou Darboe, would be in prison,” Barrow remarked.
Barrow accused Darboe of frequently violating Gambian laws, offenses that, according to him, could lead to imprisonment.
“I am aware of the laws that could lead to his incarceration, but we have refrained from taking such actions. This is due to our political will and our commitment to fostering a robust democracy. If someone claims, ‘I will make this country ungovernable,’ where should that person be? In many other countries, such individuals would spend the night in Mile 2. He frequently holds press conferences and often flouts the law. However, we are dedicated to strengthening our democracy, which is why we have reported this to the United Nations,” Barrow added.
President Barrow, while refraining from discussing the ongoing commission, urged Darboe to focus on resolving issues within his own party.
“There’s a commission in progress, and I don’t want to comment on it because they’ll accuse me of interference. But he’s speaking too much, and he’s overlooking the problems under his leadership. He won’t address the actions of the councils under his mayors and chairpersons. Let him focus on cleaning his own house before criticizing others,” the president remarked.
The leader of the National People’s Party expressed his gratitude to Gambians for their support, emphasizing that all his accomplishments were made possible with their help.
Referring to a comment by Darboe, he said: “He [Darboe] mentioned that the reception they gave him yesterday should continue so they can remove me. That’s the same thing they said in 2021. Let them know that in 2026, I will be the candidate, and we’ll see if they can remove me. Gambians are not foolish; they can tell the difference between someone who delivers results and someone who only talks.”
Darboe has repeatedly urged the president to respect his term and step down in 2026, but President Barrow has stated that there is no term limit in The Gambia.President Barrow reflected on the issue of term limits in The Gambia, emphasizing that no such limit exists. “We are both players in this political arena, but the referee sets the rules. How can one player decide that they will participate while the other will not? It’s like deciding who gets to play at someone else’s party. The NPP has the responsibility to choose its candidate, so focus on that process. As far as I’m concerned, you are the next candidate, and I congratulate you on that. It’s a rematch—we’ll face each other again. You know I threw the punch last time, and you had to go to ‘Ardo,’ but this time, you won’t be coming back,” he stated.
Barrow also encouraged his supporters to respect the law and work towards the progress of the nation, calling for unity within his party.
“Unity is key. In 2021, we united and defeated a party that had been in existence for 30 years, while we were just two years old. That kind of victory had never been seen in The Gambia before. If we remain united, we will do it again, and this time, we will defeat the UDP by an even greater margin. We have achieved something significant. What has Ousainou Darboe done? Let him tell me. Even during my presidency, he didn’t contribute. He sent me a letter asking me not to contest, and neither he nor his family supported me. He has never been a part of my politics,” Barrow continued.
President Barrow has dismissed claims suggesting that he joined the United Democratic Party (UDP) less than fifteen years ago.
“Yesterday, I heard him (Darboe) say that I joined them less than fifteen years ago. Does that mean only the executive members are considered UDP? Since I was born, I had never voted for any party. I didn’t even take a voter’s card at the time because I wasn’t interested. I would attend political rallies, but I didn’t vote. The first time I ever voted, I gave my vote to the UDP. I joined the UDP when it was newly formed, and I was one of the first to distribute flyers everywhere in support of the party. But he’s counting only party executives as being UDP. He should ask how I was recognized. The grassroots in Jimara called him and told him I was the best candidate there, and that’s how he got to know me because I didn’t have the time to go meet him at his compound. Even with donations, I contributed, but now he’s saying I’ve only been with UDP for fifteen years,” the president stated.