09/24/2025
Ousainou Darboe, A Tried and Tested Leader for 2026
By Hon. Sheriffo Sonko (Sonko Gambia)
Gambians, let us be honest. When it suited them, they called him Baba, Uncle, and even The Mandela of The Gambia. He mentored many, guided their political journeys, and supported their ambitions. Yet, when some failed in their attempts to secure the party’s flagbearer position, they turned against him, launching smear campaigns in a desperate attempt to discredit him. But Gambians know who Ousainou Darboe is, what he has stood for, and no amount of falsehood can derail the mission to rescue The Gambia in 2026.
In this era of social media, with a lot of irrefutable information available online, who can fool who? My fellow youths, let us not betray the struggle near completion, one built on the sacrifices of our elders and fallen heroes who gave their lives for a better Gambia.
Darboe has always been at the forefront of that struggle. When many of his peers pursued international opportunities, he stayed behind to face one of the worst dictatorships in West Africa. He endured persecution, imprisonment, and political suppression, yet never wavered in his fight for freedom, democracy, and justice. In him, we have a leader who will not mortgage our nation’s future to unscrupulous interests.
As experts predict possible oil discoveries in The Gambia, foreign investors will inevitably circle. In such times, the country must be in steady and honest hands. Darboe is a leader who has been tried, tested, and trusted.
We have done it before. In 2016, change came not from foreign investors but from the unity and sacrifices of everyday Gambians at home and abroad. With the same spirit, we can free our country once again from state capture and safeguard our sovereignty.
And for those who may not be familiar with the background and experience of Ousainou Darboe, and wondering “who is Ousainou Darboe and why him?”. I thought you would never asked.
His Excellency A.N.M. Ousainou Darboe, known as Lawyer Darboe, is the Secretary General and leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), and former Vice President of The Gambia. Born in 1948 in Naini Dobo, Central Gambia, Darboe attended Bansang Primary, St. Augustine’s High, and Gambia High School before earning a Commonwealth scholarship to study law in Nigeria. He later obtained an LLM from the University of Ottawa, Canada.
Darboe was called to the bar in Nigeria and The Gambia in 1973. He began his career at the Attorney General’s Chambers before moving into private practice, where he became known for defending political detainees, providing pro bono services to the disadvantaged, and serving as legal adviser to major institutions. He rose to become a prominent figure in the Gambia Bar Association and later sat on the National Advisory Committee for the selection of judges to the International Court of Justice.
Darboe entered politics in 1996 after the junta banned the first republic’s political parties. As leader of the newly formed UDP, he became the face of resistance against dictatorship. His courage was most visible in April 2016, when he led a peaceful protest demanding justice for Ebrima Solo Sandeng, who was killed in state custody. Darboe and several UDP executives were arrested and imprisoned for eight months. Their sacrifice ignited nationwide anger that helped end Jammeh’s 22-year rule.
Following the 2016 elections, Darboe was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, where he quickly rebuilt Gambia’s global standing, secured the release of frozen EU aid, and helped mobilize $1.7 billion in international pledges. In 2018, he was appointed Vice President and Minister of Women’s Affairs.
Beyond politics, Darboe has contributed to sports, serving as Vice President of the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Wrestling Federation. A devoted family man, he is married with children, including his eldest daughter, Mariama, a Tulane University graduate in Public Health.
Today, as The Gambia looks toward 2026, the call is clear, our nation needs steady leadership, integrity, and resilience. Ousainou Darboe has dedicated his life to democracy, justice, and national sovereignty. He has been tried and tested in the hardest of times, and he remains the best choice to lead The Gambia into a new era.
My fellow youths, the future of our country is too important to gamble with. Let us put our trust in a man who has never betrayed us, the people’s president, Ousainou A.N.M. Darboe.
