In Gambian politics, where opportunism often masquerades as leadership, the true test of patriotism lies not in rhetoric but in sacrifice. Lawyer Lamin J. Darbo, leader of the Opposition National Unity Party (NUP), has announced that he will renounce his British citizenship ahead of the 2026 presidential election, in full respect of constitutional rules that bar dual citizens from contesting.
This act is not mere compliance; it is a declaration of fidelity to the law, a sacrifice of personal privilege for national duty.
Yet Darbo’s decision also exposes a deeper wound in our politics: the marginalisation of dual citizens. For decades, Gambians in the diaspora have been among the nation’s most consistent lifelines, sending remittances that sustain families, investing in education and healthcare, and amplifying the country’s voice in international forums. They have built schools, funded hospitals, and carried the Gambia’s story across continents.
And yet, when it comes to political participation, they are often treated as outsiders, their citizenship questioned, their loyalty doubted.
History has shown us, from the Jammeh regime to the current Barrow administration, that opportunists have manipulated this very issue. Some lied about their dual citizenship to secure cabinet posts, bending the rules to chase power. They treated the constitution as an obstacle to be sidestepped rather than a covenant to be honoured.
Darbo chose differently. In 2017, he refused a cabinet position because his dual citizenship disqualified him. That refusal was not weakness—it was integrity. It was the kind of moral courage that separates patriots from pretenders.
Now, as he prepares to surrender his British passport, Darbo demonstrates that respect for the constitution is not negotiable. His sacrifice is a rebuke to those who manipulate the law for position, and a reminder that leadership must be anchored in principle.
But it also raises a pressing question: how long will Gambian politics continue to marginalise the diaspora, whose contributions to the nation are undeniable?
The diaspora community is not a liability—it is an asset. Their remittances are the backbone of the economy, their advocacy has kept human rights abuses in the global spotlight, and their investments have sustained development where the government failed.
To exclude them from full political participation is to weaken the very fabric of national unity. Darbo’s stand, therefore, is not only about his own candidacy—it is about challenging a system that undervalues the diaspora while exploiting their resources.
A true politician does not lie for position, rent crowds for relevance, or manipulate the constitution for convenience. A true politician respects the law, honours the people, and embraces the diaspora as part of the nation’s strength.
Lamin J. Darbo’s decision to renounce his dual citizenship is both a personal sacrifice and a civic lesson: patriotism is not about slogans, but about fidelity to the constitution; leadership is not about manipulation, but about integrity; and national unity cannot be achieved while marginalising those who have carried the Gambia in their hearts and wallets across the world.
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