Gambian lawyer and politician Essa Faal has vowed to bring together the opposition to unseat President Adama Barrow ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
Mr Faal, who previously served as lead counsel for The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), told Gambia Talents Promotion that he resigned from his role at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to focus.
He reiterated his commitment to addressing the challenges facing Gambians, citing the rising cost of living and the economic hardship under the Barrow administration.
“I was tasked with handling the Rohingya case, and by God’s help, we have filed a warrant of arrest for the Myanmar president. Very soon, I will file another warrant for senior members of the Myanmar military. But I have resigned from the ICC so I can fully concentrate on Gambian politics,” he told journalist Fatou Samba, host of the Semester Avenue with Gambia Talents Promotion TV.
“I never intended to stay long in that role. I’ve fulfilled the task assigned to me, and we have achieved success.”
The outspoken lawyer-turned politician lamented the situation in the country, describing it as “dire that everyone is feeling the impact”.
Speaking to Star FM radio on Monday, Mr Faal revealed that his decision to “bring the opposition together under one umbrella” to unseat President Adama Barrow’s administration.
“That is a thing of the past. What Gambia needs now is somebody who is capable and not someone who feels he deserves to be president. That type of politics has been thrown into the dustbin. I am sure some of the political players will use the 2021 presidential election results as a pretext to beat their chest but I want to make it clear that what obtains in 2021 will be totally different from what will happen in 2026,” Faal said.
Faal, an international counsel who handled high profile cases in The Hague, said many young Gambians are aware and now yearning for change.
“The Gambia is changing and the opposition should be able to come together and embrace that change. We should reduce the cost of elections and the cost of politics in general by coming together. So for me, as a matter of principle I want us to have a coalition. I have called for a coalition many times and that remains my position,” Essa Faal said.
However, he has not indicated how he intends to unite the opposition under one banner to undo what he calls “the suffering of Gambians”.
He added that he would like the opposition coalition to be led by someone who has the most prospects of winning in 2026.
Reiterating his commitment to part ways with Barrow’s legacy, he does not mince his words, stressing: “I am not going to subscribe to that. So anybody we are going to put forward must be somebody who has the knowledge and credibility, love for country and integrity.”
When asked whether he would be tempted to take government’s job offer, if it comes, Faal categorically said: “I cannot see myself getting into government under the current circumstances unless something extraordinarily happens. I cannot work with a government that is stealing taxpayers’ money and dealing with a selected few.”
Faal said set out to an end the political deception Gambians have been put through over the past years.
“I want to enlighten the Gambian people to understand that power belongs to them and not to the few in leadership positions. My priority is to ensure that every Gambian lives a very decent and dignified life,” he said.
