President Adama Barrow addressed a meeting in Kerr Mahlima on 13 October 2026, where he called for national unity and a rejection of tribal divisions. During the event, President Adama Barrow stated that tribalism has no place in the development agenda of The Gambia. The meeting, held in the community of Kerr Mahlima, served as a platform for the head of state to articulate his vision for a cohesive national identity.
Addressing the crowd, the president urged citizens to prioritize national cohesion over ethnic identity. "The issue of tribalism, we should all run away from it. We are all Gambians, and we are all related. We are all from the same mother and father. Let us put tribalism aside and unite as one family," President Adama Barrow said. He added, "This person is a Fula and this one is a Mandinka; let us put that aside and distance ourselves from it. Let us unite and move the country forward rather than engage in tribalism; that is what will develop the country."
President Adama Barrow also emphasized that surnames and tribal affiliations serve only as practical markers for distinguishing individuals rather than as grounds for social separation. "If your surname is Barrow, another person's surname is Darboe, it is only for identification, nothing else. In every tribe, there is a good person and there is a bad person," he stated. He further noted the importance of shared community bonds, saying, "So we are all neighbours, we are all Muslims and Christians. Then we are brothers and sisters."
The address in Kerr Mahlima focused heavily on the necessity of maintaining peace and stability to foster progress. President Adama Barrow reiterated that tribalism has no place in The Gambia's development agenda, suggesting that the energy currently expended on ethnic distinctions would be better directed toward collective national goals. By noting that surnames and tribal affiliations are only for identification purposes, he sought to decouple individual identity from political or social fragmentation.
The president’s message was directed at the entire population, emphasizing that the country’s strength lies in its ability to transcend individual labels. He argued that the shared experiences of citizens, regardless of their background, provide a foundation for unity. President Adama Barrow concluded his remarks by encouraging the attendees in Kerr Mahlima to view one another as partners in the development of the nation. He stressed that the labels often used to categorize Gambians are insufficient to define the relationships between neighbors, who share both faith and community. The president’s call to action was for a unified approach to the future of the country, leaving behind the divisions that he believes hinder national advancement and prosperity.
