By Omar Bah
Gambians in the diaspora, in collaboration with stakeholders in Gambia, are in the early stages of discussions to form a new coalition for the 2026 presidential election. It’s worth noting that the Gambian diaspora played a pivotal role in creating the 2016 coalition, ultimately ending former President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule.
According to a communique, the concerned diasporans are discontented with the current regime’s handling of the Gambian economy, failed promises, failed healthcare system, failed policies, high [youth] unemployment, high cost of living, increasing crime rate, ailing infrastructure, and chronic corruption. The Coalition for System Change aims to lift Gambia’s burden of poor governance.
It draws its membership from around the world and is headquartered in Atlanta, United States of America. The group, chaired by Kebba Wally Foon, said it is inviting all opposition political parties, aspiring presidential candidates, civil society organizations, youth organizations, women’s organizations, and interested parties to an inaugural meeting on Saturday, July 6, 2024.