Information Minister Dr Ismaila Ceesay has dismissed the newly formed opposition Coalition 2026 as a “monolition”, arguing that the alliance does not qualify as a coalition because, in his view, only one political party remains at its centre.

Dr Ceesay made the remarks while commenting on the opposition coalition-building process, which culminated in the declaration of Talib Ahmed Bensouda as its flag bearer for the 2026 presidential election.

“A coalition is composed of a plethora of political parties coming together. They have ten. What are those? Name me only one political party in this Coalition 2026,” he said.

According to the minister, the only political party he could identify within the arrangement was the UNITE Party.

“That’s why it’s a monolition. It’s a mono. That’s the only political party,” he said.

Dr Ceesay argued that describing the arrangement as a coalition was therefore misleading, insisting that it was effectively one party presenting itself as a broader opposition alliance.

He also took aim at the process through which the coalition’s flag bearer was selected, describing the months-long negotiations as one of the most “comical” coalition-building exercises he had witnessed in The Gambia.

“I’ve been observing recently with the coalition-building manoeuvring. This is the most comical I’ve seen in the history of this country insofar as coalition building is concerned,” he said.

The minister questioned the credibility of the process, alleging that several political parties withdrew after concluding that the outcome had been predetermined.

“Parties ejecting themselves as they go once they realise the process was predetermined and was rigged,” he said.

Dr Ceesay further pointed to UNITE’s involvement in a separate alliance-building process with the National Unity Party (NUP) while it was still participating in Coalition 2026 negotiations.

He argued that this demonstrated a lack of confidence in the coalition process and suggested that UNITE was unwilling to accept an outcome that did not produce its preferred candidate.

“Unite was forming a separate coalition with NUP. It means that Unite had no intention to accept any other outcome from Coalition 2026 apart from them leading,” he said.

According to the minister, if the process had been genuinely open and UNITE had failed to secure the leadership of the coalition, the party would not have supported the eventual winner.

“They go and form an alliance with NUP and still contest. It means there’s no trust and faith in that coalition,” he added.

Dr Ceesay said the withdrawal of several parties had effectively brought the coalition process to an end.

“That is why everybody left. All those who were there, they left the coalition. Now that the Coalition 2026 is now dead,” he said.

He said he had already predicted the coalition’s collapse weeks earlier, claiming that he had “announced its obituaries” and even predicted when it would be buried.
“I announced its obituaries two weeks ago. That it was announced. That it will be buried on the 8th,” he said.

His comments come after Coalition 2026 declared UNITE Party leader Talib Ahmed Bensouda as its flag bearer following months of negotiations among opposition parties and political movements.

By Adama Makasuba