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Gambia: Gambia opposition breaks political marriage

Africa might have moved on its road to political development. This development has not spread to the maintaining of political marriages or alliances, which are often short-lived for many reasons. The latest cessation of political marriage occurs in The Gambia where the two opposition parties • National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM) and the National Development for Democracy (NADD) - broke ranks.

“I am directed by the executive committee of the National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM) to write and convey to you our decision to withdraw from NADD Alliance with immediate effect,” writes the leader of NDAM, Mr Lamin Waa Juwara.

While thanking NADD officials for fighting the same course, Mr Juwara did not rule out the possibility of any future alliance. “But for now, we strongly feel it prudent to go it alone.”

The withdrawal of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and National Reconciliation (NRP) from the NADD coalition was enough weakness for the latter. Its leader, Halifa Sallah, lost in both the presidential and legislative polls.

Observers held the view that since the two party executives defer in ideological differences, their fall out was obvious.

Mr Juwara, a seasoned critic of President Jammeh’s regime, is at the brink of travelling to the United States to consult the party most of whose executive live abroad. This consultation seeks to map out a sense of direction for the party.

Lamin Waa Juwara has been known for being a fiery Gambian opposition during the past and present regimes. He was formerly the propaganda secretary of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) • a party that failed three times to win the Presidential seat since its formation in 1996 when a ban on politics was lifted by the military junta.

However, the lion politician broke split with the UDP, accusing its leadership of being a bunch of cowards • not the type to dislodge Mr Jammeh from power.

Together with some Gambians abroad, the former parliamentarian in the ousted regime of Sir Dawda Jawara coined NDAM. Since its formation some years back, NDAM has never single-handedly participated in any elections in the country.

In 2003, an article “let’s take to the streets” published by The Independent Newspaper in which Mr Juwara was quoted led to his six months conviction for sedition.

A Kenyan media chief, Wilfred Kiboro, told the last year’s new media conference that time had come for Africa to better coalitions of political parties, which he admitted, was a new phenomenon in the continent’s politics.

It is believed that coalitions generally favour big parties at the expense of the small ones, which causes anger and thus leading to frictions. In some countries, the ruling party bigwigs who fear the powers of opposition coalitions undermine them. Ironically, even the ruling parties find it extremely difficult to sustain their marriage with other parties.