Sidia Jatta, coordinator of the Team Gambia Grand Coalition, held a press conference on 19 October 2026 to announce that the coalition plans to contest the December 2026 presidential election. Addressing the gathering, Jatta stated, "Our challenge is that the first speaker talked about starting afresh, giving a new start to the Gambia in an open-minded way and a new commitment to make a difference from 61 years of endeavour to liberate this country." He noted, "All the governments that have been in place for the last 61 years have supposedly committed themselves to freeing this country from poverty, freeing this country from ignorance, freeing this country from injustice." Jatta added, "But what we have seen is that instead of that freedom, poverty has increased."
The coordinator emphasized that the decision to participate in the upcoming December 2026 presidential election follows a period of internal deliberation within the Team Gambia Grand Coalition. During the press conference on 19 October 2026, Sidia Jatta outlined the necessity for a shift in national governance, citing the coalition’s assessment of the country's current socio-economic status. By formally declaring their intent to contest the election, the Team Gambia Grand Coalition aims to position itself as a central alternative for voters. Sidia Jatta, serving as the coordinator, reiterated that the coalition’s platform is built upon the feedback gathered from citizens during recent months of organizational work. This announcement marks the beginning of a formal campaign period for the group as they prepare for the ballot.
Coalition Completes National Awareness Tour
Team Gambia Grand Coalition members finalized their second national tour on 18 October 2026. This initiative served as a platform for public awareness activities across The Gambia. Organizers focused on engaging citizens throughout the regions to discuss the coalition's objectives ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle. Yankuba Jallow participated in the outreach efforts, which involved visiting various communities to explain the organization's platform. The tour concluded after several weeks of travel, marking a formal end to this phase of the coalition's campaign strategy. Participants held meetings with local groups to gather feedback and disseminate information regarding the coalition's policy goals. The completion of this tour provides the coalition with a documented record of public engagement as it prepares for the December 2026 presidential election. Officials stated that the data collected during these sessions will inform the next steps of their national campaign.
The Team Gambia Grand Coalition completed its second tour of the country for public awareness activities just one day prior to the press conference held by Sidia Jatta. This second tour allowed members of the Team Gambia Grand Coalition to traverse various districts, ensuring that the organization's messaging reached a broad demographic. Yankuba Jallow, who was active throughout the duration of the tour, noted that the engagement with local populations was instrumental in refining the coalition's policy priorities. By conducting this second national tour, the coalition sought to build a foundation of support before the official start of the campaign season. The information gathered during these public awareness activities is now being processed by the organization’s leadership team. This strategic approach ensures that the coalition’s platform remains aligned with the specific concerns voiced by the public during the tour. With the second tour now concluded, the Team Gambia Grand Coalition is shifting its focus toward the logistical requirements of the December 2026 presidential election.
