Gambia’s opposition parties have taken steps towards forming a unified coalition ahead of the December presidential election.

The meeting, held on Saturday at the Baobab Hotel in Bijilo and hosted by the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) under the initiative of the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD), brought together key political actors alongside civil society groups.

Representatives from the United Democratic Party (UDP), GDC, ADD, National Democratic Party (NDP), Unite Movement for Change, National Development Association (NDA), People’s Alliance Party (PAP), Gambian People’s Advancement Party (GPAP), and APRC No-To-Alliance attended. APP SOBEYA, led by Essa Faal, was absent due to prior commitments but reaffirmed support for the process.

The session, overseen by civil society representatives Ebrima S. Bah and Professor Yero Mballow, appointed Mballow as chairperson and set up a multi-party task force to draft the coalition’s Terms of Reference.

Participants also adopted interim principles, including transparency, shared responsibility, zero tolerance for hate speech, and full public disclosure of agreements.

The meeting ended with plans to reconvene on 2 May 2026.