Jarra Soma To Host UDP Congress- Party Officials Unveiled

As Lawyer Darboe Vows To End Dictatorship In Gambia

By Staff Reporter Bakary Gibba, Banjul

Gambia’s biggest opposition group—the United Democratic Party under the leadership prominent Human rights lawyer and political activist Ousainou Darboe is set for a Congress, which is to be held in the provincial town of Jarra Soma, the Freedom Newspaper has gathered. The UDP Congress would enable the election of a new Executive to take charge of the party sources said. Although, no date has been scheduled for the long awaited Congress, but UDP officials informed the Freedom Newspaper that this year’s Congress would be held in Soma.

The UDP on February 6^th 2010, held a convocation Central Committee meeting at its party bureau—situated at number 1 Rene Blain Street in Banjul, said an official of the party. The upcoming Congress was discussed at the said meeting, in which party officials expressed the need to elect a new Executive.

Delegates from various localities across the country—are expected to sponsor their chosen candidates to take part in the UDP leadership election. The candidate with the majority delegates would take charge of the party’s mantle of leadership.

The UDP had its last Congress in Brikama some couple of years ago—in which the  incumbent party leader Ousainou Darboe went unopposed. The Congress was nearly disrupted by police, as reports of opposition supporters being harassed and tortured by the NIA emerged.

Wassa Janneh an exiled UDP official now based in New York City, alongside with other UDP supporters were exposed to systematic torture by the NIA, then under the leadership of the late Daba Marena, sources said.

Meanwhile,  addressing his supporters  leader Lawyer Ousainou said the UDP is today stronger than ever in history of the party.  He called on all and sundry to rally behind the UDP, which is committed to restoring democracy and the rule of law in The Gambia. Mr. Darboe said his party is committed to ending the Jammeh dictatorship, and therefore prevail on Gambians to rally behind the UDP.

"The UDP according to Darboe would always respect the laws of the land, but was quick to add that they would not tolerate any form of  undermining from anybody as a registered political party in the country."

Other speakers include: Dembo By-Force Bojang the party’s Propaganda Secretary, Lamin Dibba Deputy Administrative Secretary, Ebou Pesse Njie, Aji Yam Seck, Ebou Manneh Senior  Administrative Secretary, Kemeseng Jammeh, Honorable Momodou L. Sanneh the Minority Leader and NAM for Kiang West and Regional Chairmen and Women from across the country, who all vowed to rally behind their leader Lawyer Darboe.

 The women supporters  also called on the leadership to work in partnership with them  by sharing vital party information. This they said, would enable them to disseminate valid information to party militants at the grass root level. They also want to see the UDP to be proactive on domestic politics by reaching out to all concern in the nation’s political divide. Enhancing public confidence on the party’s leadership was also raised by the UDP women wing.