Coalition 2026 launched its manifesto, titled "The Gambia We Deserve," on 22 October 2026. The document outlines 3 pillars, 13 policy points, and 66 priority actions scheduled for completion by 2031.
Talib Ahmed Bensouda, leader of UNITE, stated, "Coalition 2026 is here to transform The Gambia. Our manifesto contains three interconnected pillars. Governance and trust, human development, and economic integrity. But we want every Gambian to understand their meaning through three simple commitments - prosperity, a productive economy that creates jobs, and improved living standards."
Vision for National Transformation
Coalition 2026 reached a formal coalition agreement with the APP Sobeyaa faction, led by Dr. Ali Ngumbo Touray. Talib Ahmed Bensouda, leader of UNITE, noted the symbolic alignment between the policy timeline and the country's national history. "We found out that The Gambia will turn 66 years old in 2031," Bensouda said. "So, by 2031, when Gambia is 66, we will have completed the 66 actions that will transform this nation."
Bensouda emphasized the urgency of the manifesto’s objectives regarding citizens' daily lives. "Our people work hard, yet families continue to struggle with the cost of living," he stated. He posed a broader question regarding the coalition's legacy: "What kind of country do we want to leave for our children? And what must we do to build it?"
Governance and Policy Priorities
Coalition 2026 intends to initiate a constitutional review process followed by a national referendum within a two-year timeframe. This objective serves as a central component of the governance reforms outlined in the manifesto, intended to modernize the legal framework of The Gambia.
Public health investment represents another area of focus for the coalition. The group plans to increase government health expenditure to 15% of the national budget. This adjustment aims to expand access to medical services and improve the overall functionality of the existing healthcare infrastructure.
Economic development goals include a target to eliminate poverty across the country. Talib Ahmed Bensouda, leader of UNITE, addressed these long-term social objectives during the manifesto launch. "Our commitment is to end all kinds of poverty in our country within 10 years," Bensouda said. "Our ambition is substantial, but it must be matched by sound policies, disciplined implementation, and public accountability. We will measure success not by promises we make, but by the improvements Gambians experience in their daily lives."
These policy priorities are set for implementation alongside the 66 action items scheduled for completion by 2031. The coalition maintains that these specific targets for governance, health spending, and poverty reduction are essential to the broader transformation of the national economy.
