By Buba Gagigo
The Secretary General and Party Leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, is set to return to the country today after spending several weeks in the United States. During his visit, UDP supporters in Atlanta and Seattle organized fundraisers, with the Seattle event reportedly raising six million dalasis.
Haji Suwaneh, the National Youth President of the UDP, emphasized the significance of Darboe’s return and the welcome the party is organizing for his homecoming.
“The importance of the welcoming cannot be overemphasized, as we know the role Ousainou ANM Darboe is playing to promote democracy since 1996 to date. In this European and USA tour, he did not only participate in UDP politics but was also invited to attend the Democratic National Convention, where Vice President Kamala Harris was nominated by the Democrats for the November 2024 presidential elections. To celebrate his homecoming is a significant symbol of appreciation for Ousainu Darboe’s unrelenting efforts to fight for the building of a better Gambia where justice, peace, and progress will prevail and for the young to harness their potentials without any stress. Thus, the welcoming is organized for a person who deserves more than just a welcome,” Haji Suwaneh told Kerr Fatou.
As the UDP gears up for the 2026 presidential election, where President Barrow has already announced his candidacy, Darboe’s return from America, bolstered by substantial support from the Seattle chapter, marks a crucial moment for the party.