Ousainou Darboe, the leader of United Democratic Party, says he is confident of defeating President Adama Barrow in next year’s presidential election.

Mr Darboe told hundreds of UDP supporters yesterday at a political rally in Buffer Zone that his party’s priority is to address the country’s unsolved problems.

“We are in this country despite we are not in government and we discovered something on how this country is governed. 

“That’s why I set up a Strategic and Policy Committee to study and implement policies that would meet the needs of the country.

“Because in January 2022 when I am sworn in as the fourth president of The Gambia immediately, we are going to act on [those policies]. 

“And I promise all of you here will be in that inauguration in January 2022, my inauguration as the president of The Gambia. I promise you that,” the opposition leader told his supporters. 

Mr Darboe was re-elected unchallenged as the leader and Secretary General at the party’s national congress. He will face off President Adama Barrow, his former protégé, in next year’s presidential election.

The former Foreign Affairs minister and Vice President served in Barrow’s government for two years before he was sacked in 2019 after the two had a falling-out. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba