United Democratic Party [UK] – Mission Statement

The United Democratic Party [UK] is a not for profit organisation founded on the 27th February 2010 as an affiliated body to the Gambia’s main opposition United Democratic Party [UDP], by concern citizens of the Gambia living in the United Kingdom, whose primary aim and objective is to help end the reign of tyranny and despotism in their beloved country, the Gambia, through lawful and peaceful democratic means, and in partnership with the local political opposition, help substitute it with a democratic, responsive, accountable, transparent and law abiding government; a government that will be sensitive to the plight of ordinary citizens and upholds the values of human dignity and the constitution of the republic.

Country's Political History

The Gambia lies on the Western coast of tropical Africa, occupying an area of 11,295 sq km, making it one of the smallest countries in Africa, and it is a semi-enclave into Senegal. The Gambia has a population of about 1.5 million people and its capital city is Banjul.

The Gambia attained independence from Britain on the 18th February 1965 amidst doubts about its economic viability as a modern democratic sovereign state. The first president of The Gambia was Alhagi Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara who ruled the country from independence until 1994 when he was ousted in a military coup headed by the then Lt. Yaya A.J. J Jammeh, who is now the president. The coup was widely condemned by the international community particularly the Commonwealth and the European Union.

Following the 1994 coup, Lieutenant Jammeh dissolved parliament and replaced it with a military council called the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council [AFPRC]. The constitution was also suspended and a ban on political parties and political activity imposed.

In October 1994, the AFPRC announced a programme for transition to democratic constitutional rule which provided for the restitution of elected civilian organs of the state in four years. Both the local civic groups and the international community condemned the length of the proposed transition. The AFPRC responded to these pressures by establishing a National Consultative Committee [NCC] to review the issue. The transition was later reduced to two years but the ban on political parties and political activity remained in force.

In April 1995, the AFPRC established a Constitutional Review Commission and decided that the draft Constitution had to be submitted to a referendum first before the ban on politics was to be lifted. Meanwhile, the junta [AFPRC] had already formed its own 22 July Movement which manifested all the features of a political party and was fully utilised to help Lieutenant Jammeh [now Rtd. Colonel] contest the subsequent presidential election from an advantaged position of incumbency. The transition process included the compilation of a new electoral register, a referendum on a new constitution and the presidential and parliamentary elections in 1996 and 1997 respectively.

In 1996, the ban on political parties and political activity was lifted but the People’s Progressive Party of former president Jawara, the National Convention Party and the Gambia People’s Party –the three main political parties in the country prior to the coup – were banned from contesting the forthcoming elections, as were all holders of executive office in the 30 years prior to the 1994 military takeover [the latter under Decree 89]. The only pre-coup party authorised to contest the elections was a fringe party called The People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism [PDOIS]. These restrictions provoked strong criticism from the international community particularly the Commonwealth, and eventually gave birth to the United Democratic Party [UDP] in August 1996, exactly two weeks before the presidential election. The UDP is headed by a prominent human rights lawyer and former Vice President of The Gambia Bar Association.

Human Rights and Political Governance

In September 1996, the AFPRC transformed itself into a political party and contested the presidential election which it won but the process was rejected by the main opposition United Democratic Party as well as the international community as neither free nor fair. Since then, the Gambia has been faced with serious governance and human rights violation issues, resulting to the creation of a repressive environment and a culture of fear in the country.

Although the constitution provides for the protection of most human rights and civil liberties, there are continuing cases of arbitrary arrests and detentions without warrants or trial particularly against political opponents and perceived opponents of the regime, and journalists -See US Statement Department Human Rights Report 2009. Detainees also face prolong pre-trial detentions and are normally held beyond the 72 hour constitutional limit without charge.

On the 10th & 11th April 2000, 14 student demonstrators were shot dead in broad daylight. A government own appointed Commission of Enquiry held the security forces responsible for the killings but no prosecution has so far being brought against anybody.

The 2008 & 2009 Amnesty International Reports also highlighted some disturbing cases of suspected enforced disappearances. The fate of Kanyiba Kanyi, an opposition activist arrested in 2006, remains unknown as the government continued to deny knowledge of his where about despite repeated ruling by the Gambian courts for his release or for a cause to be shown as to why he should not be.

In July 2008, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice [CCJ] ordered the Gambian government to release Chief Ebrima Manneh, a former reporter from the Daily observer arrested in 2006. The government ignored the ruling and continues to deny that he was in their custody.

The regime restricts freedom of speech and press through intimidation, unwarranted arrests and detentions, and restrictive legislation. The restrictive media environment that exists in the country has forced many journalists into self imposed exile or out of business.

Although the constitution provides for an independent judiciary, the regime continues to fire judges particularly those who made unfavourable decisions against it, without the due process being followed. The most recent case being the removal of the country’s Chief Justice, Justice Abdou Karim Savage.

The lower courts tend to be corrupt and many a times subject to executive pressure.

A recent report by the Millennium Challenge Corporation indicates that the Gambia falls short in a number of governance indicators such as management of state assets, government effectiveness and accountability. In addition, the National Parliament is not effectively performing its oversight roles and responsibilities particularly in the area of budget formulation and public expenditure control.

Aims and Objectives

The United Democratic Party [UK] recognised that the UDP is inter alia;

1. By far the biggest opposition party in the Gambia.

2. Intends to make credible political and constitutional reforms that would nurture in a vibrant democratic society based on respect for the rule of law and fundamental principles of democratic representation, and in which citizens are able to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms without undue state interference.

3. Intends to introduce a presidential term limit into the constitution [this is expected to be an entrenched clause] as a way of ending the culture of self perpetuating rule.

4. Intends to strengthen and safeguard the independence and integrity of the judiciary particularly the criminal justice system.

5. Is committed to making tangible investment in the productive sectors of the economy so as to stimulate growth, and to the judicious appropriation of taxpayers’ money.

6. Will persevere to improve the quality of state delivered social services particularly in the health and education sectors.

7. Intends to create conducive environment for attracting the much badly needed foreign investment into the country.

8. Have the political will to tackle the perennial issue of youth unemployment head on.

9. Despite being the biggest opposition party, have serious capacity issues. This is attributed to inadequate funding.

10. Lacks sufficient visibility on the ground due to limited campaign tools i.e. T-Shirts, Billboards, Posters and political souvenirs.

11. Lack of funds hinders the party’s ability to conduct regular public political activities.

12. Lack of regular public political activity tends to make their upcountry structures dormant.

13. Communication between the executive and the upcountry structures seems to be periodic and not robust.

14. The party’s overall political communication strategy and mechanisms need improving – There has to be in place an effective and more robust communication media outlet i.e. a website that could be regularly updated with high quality information.

15. The party needs to take a proactive and more vigilant stand towards the upcoming National Voter Registration to ensure that the integrity of the process is guaranteed and safeguarded.

16. Campaign for the 2011 presidential election must begin in earnest.


The United Democratic Party [UK] intends to raise sufficient funds from within the Gambian communities in the Diaspora to;

a) Help address the capacity issues confronting the party so as to make it more competitive in the face of a wealthy incumbent.

b) Acquire enough campaign tools, i.e. T-Shirts, and posters among other things, to create enough on the ground visibility for the party before the 2011 presidential election.

c) Help improve the party’s political communication strategy and mechanisms

d) Help finance party leader’s nationwide tours and public meetings [rallies].

e) Help strengthen the party’s local structures nationwide, and encourage more grass root support and participation.

f) Help fund the party’s 2011 presidential and 2012 parliamentary elections campaign.


The United Democratic Party [UK] urges every Gambian, particularly those in the Diaspora, to dutifully support this venture by making generous donations to the organisation, and together we can build a just, democratic and prosperous Gambia.

Prospective donors can register their interest with the coordinator by email; gambiaforall@googlemail.com. Alternatively, you can make payment[s] into our NatWest bank account, details of which are as follows; Account Name: KD/UDP UK, Account No. 23644079, Sort Code; 602479. For those living outside the UK, our International Bank Account Number [IBAN] is; GB07 NWBK 60247923 644079.Donate money to the UDP-UK, and secure a real change for The Gambia in 2011.

S.S Daffeh
Secretary-General