Bantaba Laughs

10/09/2025

Respecting Internal Democracy

The Test UDP Must Pass Before 2026

The United Democratic Party (UDP) has long stood as the face of opposition politics in The Gambia. Forged in the crucible of Yahya Jammeh’s dictatorship, the party endured arrests, harassment, and persecution, while its leader Ousainou Darboe himself wrote from prison urging Gambians to remain steadfast against tyranny. Today, however, UDP faces a new and very different test, whether it can respect and uphold the principles of democracy within its own house.

The recent flag bearer selection process has exposed deep fractures inside the party. For months, Gambians watched as no fewer than eleven aspirants came forward to lead the UDP into the 2026 elections. Among them was Kanifing Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the youngest and most visible of the new generation, whose urban track record and financial muscle made him an early favorite for some. Yet, after a series of interviews and heated debates, Talib withdrew from the race and resigned as Organising Secretary, leaving Lawyer Ousainou Darboe as the party’s confirmed flag bearer.

Reactions to these developments have been sharply divided. Talib’s supporters praise his contributions since joining the party in 2017, pointing to his success in modernizing Kanifing Municipality, his role in boosting UDP’s visibility during the 2021 elections, and his ability to attract youthful energy and diaspora support. They argue that his candidacy represented the renewal the party desperately needs. On the other hand, critics accuse Talib of entitlement, inconsistency, and over-reliance on deep pockets, noting that he had earlier declared he would not contest if Darboe entered the race.

But beyond these individual narratives lies a larger principle that Gambians must recognize: the democratic process within UDP must be respected. This contest was never about Talib alone, nor about Darboe clinging to leadership after more than two decades at the helm. It was about giving party members the right to choose their flag bearer through a process of open competition. Democracy is not always neat. It often leaves one side dissatisfied, frustrated, or even angry. But it is precisely in these moments that respect for process matters most.

For too long, Gambian politics has been plagued by personality cults, shortcuts, and patronage. Leaders are elevated not through process but through loyalty, wealth, or raw influence. If UDP is to present itself as a credible alternative to President Adama Barrow in 2026, it must prove that it practices internally what it preaches nationally. That means accepting results, supporting whoever emerges, and putting the party and the country above individual egos.

The consequences of ignoring this lesson are dire. Already, divisions within UDP are playing out on social media, where supporters of different camps are blocking, unfriending, and ridiculing each other. The diaspora, which cannot even vote in 2026 under the current Electoral Act, is among the loudest in fueling these divisions, urging Talib to run independently or form his own party. But noise is not numbers. Elections will be decided by Gambians at home, rural farmers, urban traders, women, and first-time voters, who are far more concerned with the cost of rice, electricity bills, and jobs than with factional quarrels on Facebook.

This is where respect for process becomes critical. If UDP cannot unite behind its chosen flag bearer, if it allows internal bitterness to fester into open rebellion, then it will enter 2026 fatally weakened. And Gambians, facing economic hardship and poor governance, will be left with no strong alternative to Barrow. In that case, the real losers will not be Talib or Darboe but the Gambian people.

Respecting internal democracy also means recognizing institutional memory. UDP is not just a party of today; it is an institution shaped by sacrifice and resilience. Its legitimacy comes not only from new contributions but from the blood, sweat, and tears of those who carried it through Jammeh’s darkest years. Talib’s achievements are real, but so too are the sacrifices of veterans like Darboe, Amadou Sanneh, and countless grassroots activists who stood firm when it was dangerous to do so. For UDP to survive, it must balance renewal with continuity, new energy with old memory.

At the same time, respecting internal democracy does not mean silencing debate. Talib and other aspirants should not be dismissed as irrelevant simply because they lost. Their ideas, their constituencies, and their passion remain vital to the party’s future. But they must now channel that energy into strengthening UDP under Darboe’s candidacy rather than tearing it apart. Likewise, Darboe must show magnanimity by embracing those who contested against him, ensuring that they too have a stake in shaping the campaign and the vision for 2026.

The broader lesson is that Gambians cannot afford to be “easily distracted.” Too often, we jump from one internal drama to another, forgetting the bigger picture. The real challenge is not who carries the UDP flag but whether the opposition as a whole can build a coalition broad enough to defeat Barrow’s incumbency. History reminds us that it was coalition politics in 2016 that delivered Jammeh’s defeat. Without a similar spirit of unity, 2026 risks becoming a repeat of 2021, with the incumbent returned to “Stay House” while the opposition laments its divisions.

In the end, the democratic process within UDP is not just about UDP. It is about the credibility of opposition politics in The Gambia. If the largest opposition party cannot manage its own internal democracy, how can it convincingly promise national democracy? If it cannot heal its internal wounds, how can it unite the country?

As Gambians look to 2026, the message is simple: respect the process, respect each other, and respect the people’s will. Personal ambition must bow to collective purpose. Contributions must be honored, but institutional memory must also be respected. Only through maturity, patience, and unity can UDP offer the credible alternative Gambians so desperately need.

The 2026 elections will not be decided by deep pockets or diaspora noise. They will be decided by discipline, unity, and respect for democracy. If UDP fails this test, it risks not only losing the election but betraying the very legacy it built through years of struggle. If it passes, it can reclaim its role as the torchbearer of Gambian democracy.

10/09/2025

From Defying Dictatorship to Fighting Each Other:

A Reflection on Darboe’s Prison Letter

When Lawyer Ousainou Darboe wrote from prison under Yahya Jammeh’s dictatorship, his words carried the weight of sacrifice and moral authority. He described himself and his detained compatriots as “hostages of an unjust and cruel regime,” and his message was one of unity, hope, and the determination to reclaim Gambia’s dignity. He appealed to Gambians at home and abroad to stay steadfast, law-abiding, and engaged in the struggle for freedom.

That letter inspired Gambians because it rose above self-interest. It was not about individuals, but about a people standing together to confront tyranny. Darboe invoked the memory of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, reminding Gambians of the foundations of democracy, rule of law, and integrity. At its heart, the letter was a call to unity, that the nation was “diverse but indivisible.”

Fast forward to today, and the contrast could not be starker. The UDP, the very party that once carried the torch of resistance, now finds itself fractured from within. Instead of standing united against corruption, poor governance, and economic hardship under Barrow’s administration, the party is split between Talib Ahmed Bensouda’s youthful ambitions and Darboe’s elder statesmanship. Supporters are not only divided at the political front but have taken their battles to social media , blocking, unfriending, insulting and mocking each other in scenes that would have been unimaginable in Darboe’s days of imprisonment.

This raises painful questions, how did a party forged in the crucible of dictatorship and persecution lose sight of its mission? How did the moral compass that guided UDP in its darkest days get replaced by “deep pockets” politics, internal rivalry, and tribal narratives?

Darboe’s prison words remain relevant: “Our patience, endurance, and faith would be tested.” Today, the test is not Jammeh’s prisons but UDP’s own divisions. If the party forgets that lesson, it risks betraying the very legacy that made it the symbol of Gambian democracy.

The struggle ahead is not Talib versus Darboe. It is about whether Gambians will rediscover that spirit of unity Darboe embodied in his prison letter, or whether, distracted by ego and rivalry, they will hand victory to the very system they once fought so bravely to defeat.

10/09/2025

Muslim Countries, U.S. Arms Deals, and the Gaza Crisis

Unpacking the Complex Truth

The smoke still lingers over Gaza. Families huddle in shattered buildings, aid convoys struggle to get through, and the cries of children echo across the rubble. Each new cycle of violence draws global outrage, yet the situation remains painfully familiar. As the bombs fall and lives are lost, one question resurfaces: what role are Muslim countries playing in this war? And how do massive U.S. arms deals with Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar fit into this puzzle?

In May 2017, then U.S. President Donald Trump made a high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, where Washington announced one of the largest arms deals in history, $110 billion immediately, with a projected total of $350 billion over ten years. These packages included fighter jets, missile defense systems, and military vehicles. Shortly afterward, Trump also engaged with Qatar, a key U.S. ally and host to the largest American military base in the Middle East, Al-Udeid Air Base. While no trillion-dollar deal materialized, Qatar has entered into multi-billion-dollar defense agreements with the United States. These deals have since sparked criticism for fueling militarization across the region and empowering regimes at the expense of diplomacy.

Yet behind these transactions lies a deeper contradiction. Public opinion in most Muslim-majority countries overwhelmingly supports the Palestinian cause, but their governments’ actions reveal diverging strategies. Qatar has played a visible role, providing humanitarian aid to Gaza and facilitating ceasefire negotiations. Its funding for fuel, salaries, and basic infrastructure has been lifelines for civilians, though critics argue that some of this aid may have indirectly strengthened Hamas due to its grip on the territory.

Egypt walks a delicate line. It often mediates ceasefire talks, yet tightly controls the Rafah border crossing, the only non-Israeli gateway into Gaza. Cairo’s mistrust of Hamas, rooted in its Muslim Brotherhood ties, shapes this cautious stance. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates maintain their distance. They issue condemnations of Israeli bombings but are deeply suspicious of Hamas and Islamist movements more broadly. Their vast U.S. arms purchases are aimed primarily at countering Iran rather than directly engaging in Gaza.

Iran is the outlier. It remains the most vocal and material supporter of armed Palestinian resistance groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Despite sectarian differences, Tehran views its support as part of a broader strategy to confront Israeli and U.S. influence. Weapons, intelligence, and training flow through these channels, ensuring that Iran continues to position itself as a defender of Palestine.

The moral dilemma is stark. While Muslim governments proclaim solidarity with Palestine, many simultaneously fund an arms race that destabilizes the region. The weapons purchased in billion-dollar deals may not be fired in Gaza, but they perpetuate militarization, entrench autocratic regimes, and divert resources away from peacebuilding. Can a government truly claim to support peace while fueling cycles of conflict elsewhere?

For ordinary Palestinians, the answer is clear in their daily reality. They remain trapped in a cycle of violence, caught between global powers, regional rivalries, and internal divisions. As leaders posture, profit, and maneuver, civilians pay the price. The crisis in Gaza demands more than rhetorical solidarity. It demands genuine commitment to justice, diplomacy, and human dignity.

This war is not a simple story of right versus wrong. It is a narrative woven from decades of occupation, failed peace processes, regional competition, and international indifference. Muslim countries each play their part, some with aid, others with silence, and a few with weapons. As the bombs fall and the children cry, the world once again watches. The question that remains is whether those with power will continue to choose weapons, or finally choose wisdom.

08/09/2025

UDP politics has now moved from rallies to Facebook!

Supporters are busy hitting BLOCK and UNFRIEND faster than they chant slogans.

08/09/2025

Finance Minister Seedy Keita insists it’s “within their budget.” But whose justice is really being served?

07/09/2025

The UDP Is Coming Apart at the Seams

What Talib’s Exit Really Means

If you’ve been watching Gambian politics lately, you’ve felt it, a sense of unease, a feeling that something is cracking. That feeling turned into a loud snap with the recent resignation of Kanifing Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda from his powerful roles inside the United Democratic Party (UDP).

He wasn’t just another official stepping down. For many, especially the young voters who swept him into office twice, Talib was the fresh face the UDP needed. He was articulate, he seemed clean, and he got things done in Kanifing. He represented a bridge from the party’ storied past under Ousainou Darboe to a new generation of leadership. His ambition to lead the party itself felt, to his supporters, like a natural next step.

But politics is rarely that simple.

The truth is, Talib’s gamble was always a long shot. He was young, and his national profile was still growing, especially when stacked against a field of eleven other hopefuls. Then there was his own words coming back to haunt him, a previous declaration that he’d only run if Darboe himself did. When Darboe entered the race, Talib did too, creating whispers of inconsistency before the campaign even really began.

As the internal squabbling grew louder, Talib didn’t just drop out of the race to lead the party. He walked away from the machinery itself, resigning as the UDP’s Organising Secretary and Head of Campaign. The move left everyone scrambling. Was this a tactical retreat? A sign of a party so divided that even its brightest stars can’t stand the heat?

In the aftermath, nominated Councillor Kemo Bojang stepped up to offer a defense. He pushed back against critics, arguing that Talib’s exit wasn’t weakness, but wisdom. He reminded everyone of the mud already slung at the mayor in the past. By staying in such a central role, Bojang suggested, Talib would have been the perfect scapegoat if the UDP loses in 2026. This way, he steps aside for the good of the party, preserving his own credibility for the future. It’s a generous reading, one that paints Talib as a strategic thinker, not a defeated one.

But no amount of political spin can cover up the bigger, uglier truth this resignation revealed: the UDP is in deep trouble.

What was supposed to be a healthy democratic contest for its leadership has instead become a public display of a party at war with itself. Eleven aspirants, each with their own agenda, pulling in different directions. It brings to mind the old Mandinka saying, "Fankung-Fankung", every man for himself.

And who benefits from all this? Look no further than State House.

President Barrow and his NPP must be watching this unfold with a smile. While the UDP fights internally over who gets to drive the car, Barrow is already on the road. Gambians are crying out for solutions to soaring prices, unemployment, and corruption. They don’t see a strong, united opposition ready to offer a better way; they see a squabbling family. If the UDP can’t get its act together, the 2026 election may not be a vote for Barrow so much as a vote against a chaotic alternative.

So, where does this leave Talib? His advisors are surely weighing the options. Form a new party? Risk splitting the opposition vote even further. Run as an independent? A monumental task that requires immense resources and personal appeal. Join forces with other reformists like Essa Faal? A possibility, but one that requires delicate negotiation. Or perhaps the smartest move is to wait. To bide his time, build his record as mayor, and aim for 2031, when the field may be more open.

But the question isn’t just about Talib’s future. It’s about the UDP’s soul.

Can the party balance respect for its founding leaders with the urgent need for new energy? Can it tame the selfish ambitions of its members and remember their shared purpose? Can it find a way to unite before 2026?

Kemo Bojang’s defense gives Talib a softer landing, but it doesn’t stitch the party back together. The cracks are still there, widening. Talib’s resignation isn’t the cause of the UDP’s problems; it’s a symptom of a much deeper sickness.

The coming months will tell us if the party can heal itself, or if we’re watching something truly fall apart.

07/09/2025

Advise!

07/09/2025

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

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© Ansu

07/09/2025

When ambition comes too soon…

Talib Ahmed Bensouda exits the UDP flag bearer race, leaving behind a chair and a sash, while rivals tear the party apart and Barrow smiles from the sidelines. A lesson in timing, unity, and the dangers of premature ambition.

06/09/2025

06/09/2025

Things Fall Apart in UDP

The United Democratic Party was once the brightest hope for Gambians desperate to move beyond Barrow’s failed leadership. But today, the party seems to be proving Chinua Achebe right: “Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold.” Eleven aspirants entered the flag bearer race, yet instead of unity, Gambians are watching rivalries, resignations, and division.

Talib Ahmed Bensouda’s sudden withdrawal from the race and his resignation as National Organizing Secretary highlight the cracks. What should have been a moment of renewal is now a warning sign: unless the UDP puts selfishness aside and unites, the dream of rescuing The Gambia may slip away.

06/09/2025

Current State in UDP.