Ousainou Darboe
Encyclopedia
Ousainou Darboe is a Gambian
human rights
lawyer
and politician
. He is leader of the country's main opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP).
He first ran for president in September 1996, following a military coup two years earlier. Running as the candidate of his newly formed United Democratic Party, Darboe finished second to incumbent Yahya Jammeh
of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction
(APRC) party, winning 35.84% of the vote compared to Jammeh's 55.77%. The election was roundly criticized by local and international observers as flawed.
Darboe's second attempt to gain the presidency came in October 2001. This time, he represented a three party coalition of his UDP, the People's Progressive Party
(PPP), and the Gambian People's Party
(GPP). Out of the five-candidate field, he again finished second behind Jammeh, receiving 32.59% of the vote. Unlike the 1996 vote, most observers endorsed the conduct and outcome of the poll.
In 2005, the UDP joined with four other opposition parties to form the National Alliance for Democracy and Development
(NADD), in preparation for elections in late 2006 and early 2007. The alliance, however, disintegrated after the UDP and the National Reconciliation Party
(NRP) withdrew in early 2006.
By the time presidential elections
were held on 22 September 2006, Darboe's UDP had formed another coalition with the NRP and the Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress
(GPDP) known as the "Alliance for Regime Change". Jammeh won the election with 67.33% of the vote followed by Darboe, who won 26.69%. A third candidate representing the remaining NADD parties, Halifa Sallah
, finished a distant third with 5.98% of the vote.
Darboe rejected the official results of the election, saying that the election was not free and fair and that there was widespread voter intimidation.
In a recent poll on Gambia Now he was cited to receive 24% of the vote in the upcoming 2011 general election.
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is leader of the country's main opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP).
He first ran for president in September 1996, following a military coup two years earlier. Running as the candidate of his newly formed United Democratic Party, Darboe finished second to incumbent Yahya Jammeh
Yahya Jammeh
Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh is the President of The Gambia...
of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction
The Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction is a political party in The Gambia, founded by army officers who staged a coup in 1994. It was formed in 1996 to support army leader Yahya Jammeh's campaign for the 1996 elections....
(APRC) party, winning 35.84% of the vote compared to Jammeh's 55.77%. The election was roundly criticized by local and international observers as flawed.
Darboe's second attempt to gain the presidency came in October 2001. This time, he represented a three party coalition of his UDP, the People's Progressive Party
People's Progressive Party (The Gambia)
The People's Progressive Party is a moderate centre-left political party in The Gambia. It was the dominant ruling party from 1965 with president Dawda Jawara. He was elected for a sixth term of office in 1992, but was overthrown in a coup by young army officers in 1994...
(PPP), and the Gambian People's Party
Gambian People's Party
The Gambian People's Party was a political party in The Gambia. It was founded by Assan Musa Camara in 1986. GPP was a splinter-group of the governing People's Progressive Party. The party got 15.5% of the votes in the 1987 parliamentary elections and 7.96% in the 1992 elections, but it never won a...
(GPP). Out of the five-candidate field, he again finished second behind Jammeh, receiving 32.59% of the vote. Unlike the 1996 vote, most observers endorsed the conduct and outcome of the poll.
In 2005, the UDP joined with four other opposition parties to form the National Alliance for Democracy and Development
National Alliance for Democracy and Development
The National Alliance for Democracy and Development is a five-party coalition of Gambian opposition political parties.It was officially launched January 2005 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Democratic Action Movement , National Reconciliation Party ,...
(NADD), in preparation for elections in late 2006 and early 2007. The alliance, however, disintegrated after the UDP and the National Reconciliation Party
National Reconciliation Party
The National Reconciliation Party is a political party in The Gambia.Its candidate at the presidential elections of 18 October 2001, Hamat Bah, came third with 7.8% of the popular vote. At the last legislative elections, 17 January 2002, the party won no seats....
(NRP) withdrew in early 2006.
By the time presidential elections
Gambian presidential election, 2006
The Gambian presidential election, 2006 was held on 22 September 2006. 670,000 Gambians registered to vote, and 59% of registered voters turned out to vote. Many of the 989 polling booths used marbles which were inserted into candidate drums instead of ballot papers due to the high illiteracy rate...
were held on 22 September 2006, Darboe's UDP had formed another coalition with the NRP and the Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress
Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress
The Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress is a small political party in The Gambia. It is led by Henry Gomez, a resident of Hamburg, Germany. The party initially launched Gomez as their presidential candidate for the 2006 elections, but after his candidature was refused by the IEC the party...
(GPDP) known as the "Alliance for Regime Change". Jammeh won the election with 67.33% of the vote followed by Darboe, who won 26.69%. A third candidate representing the remaining NADD parties, Halifa Sallah
Halifa Sallah
Halifa Sallah is a Gambian politician. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of The Gambia and a member of the Pan-African Parliament...
, finished a distant third with 5.98% of the vote.
Darboe rejected the official results of the election, saying that the election was not free and fair and that there was widespread voter intimidation.
In a recent poll on Gambia Now he was cited to receive 24% of the vote in the upcoming 2011 general election.