Alagie Dembo Bojang, a veteran Gambian politician and prominent member of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), has died at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul.

Bojang, popularly known as “Dembo By Force,” passed away at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

He began his career as an evaluation officer at the Ministry of Local Government before moving to the Ministry of Agriculture.

His political journey started in 1978 when he was elected as Member of Parliament for Bakau under the National Convention Party (NCP).

After the lifting of the ban on political parties in the 1990s, he joined the United Democratic Party (UDP), where he rose to the position of National President.

Bojang later played a central role as chair of the Coalition 2016, which brought President Adama Barrow to power.

He was subsequently appointed as Adviser on Religious Affairs to President Barrow, a position he held before formally aligning with the NPP.

By Adama Makasuba