Politics: Barrow Pledges New Market for Brikama if WCR Replaces Chairman Yanks Darboe

Following a recent pledge of D5 million for each ward in the West Coast Region (WCR) should the region support the United Democratic Party (UDP) in the 2026 presidential election, President Adama Barrow has urged voters in the country’s largest region to replace the UDP-led council and its chairman. In return, he promised the construction of a new Brikama market with 1,200 stalls.

At a UDP event in Jambanjelly over the weekend, WCR Chairman Yanks Darboe announced that each ward would receive D5 million if the region uses its political influence to help elect the UDP leader, Hon. Ousainou Darboe, as president on 5 December 2026. The Brikama Area Council (BAC), under Chairman Darboe, had previously allocated D500,000 to each ward upon his assumption of office, later increasing the amount to D1 million. He stated that further increases to D5 million would be possible only under a UDP government.

In response, President Barrow, speaking in Brikama during his “Meet the People” tour, intensified the political contest ahead of the 2026 polls. He called on WCR residents to vote Chairman Darboe out in the next council elections, promising that a new market with 1,200 stores would be built for Brikama if they complied. Barrow also criticised the chairman, accusing him of “fighting the government instead of working for the region.”

BAC Chairman Responds

The BAC Chairman issued a strong rebuttal to President Barrow’s remarks. He stated that the council does not make promises tied to election victories only to withdraw them later, asserting that its commitments are genuine and reliable. He reaffirmed that each ward in the West Coast Region will receive D5 million if the current government is removed in 2026.

Addressing the president’s promise of a new market, the chairman said the government should first fulfil its earlier commitment to provide free Wi-Fi to the region before making new pledges.

Rising Political Tensions Ahead of 2026

As the 2026 Gambian presidential election approaches, the political landscape continues to intensify. The UDP, the National People’s Party (NPP), and other contenders are positioning themselves for the upcoming contest. It remains unclear which party or candidate Gambians will ultimately elect to lead the nation for the next five years.