The leader of Gambia’s main opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP), Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, has described the late Solo Sandeng’s death as a pivotal moment that ignited the country’s path to freedom.
Speaking at the UDP’s Diaspora Convention held in Seattle, Washington, Darboe paid an emotional tribute to the slain activist, declaring his sacrifice as “a catalyst for Gambia’s redemption.”
In a reflective address to delegates and supporters gathered for the convention, Darboe underscored the gravity of Solo Sandeng’s death, linking it directly to the collapse of the Yahya Jammeh regime and the dawn of a new democratic era in The Gambia.
“Solo Sandeng’s death is a catalyst for Gambia’s redemption,” Darboe said. “His death, and that of others who suffered with him in the dungeons of the NIA, was a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. Their suffering, blood, and sweat led to the liberation of our country.”
Solo Sandeng, a youth leader in the UDP, was arrested on April 14, 2016, after leading a peaceful demonstration demanding electoral reforms and constitutional change. The protest, though grounded in the constitutional right to freedom of assembly, was swiftly and violently quashed by agents of the then-National Intelligence Agency (NIA), now rebranded as the State Intelligence Service (SIS). Sandeng was reportedly tortured to death on the same day, and his body buried in an unmarked grave within the NIA premises in Tanji.
Darboe, who was himself arrested and imprisoned shortly after for demanding Solo’s release and justice, said the brutality that ended Solo’s life marked a turning point in Gambian politics.
“The Gambian nation is forever grateful to you, your family, and we hope that the offspring of those who founded the UDP will step up to take up the mantle and achieve the goals their parents set out to accomplish,” Darboe added.
He called on the youth of the party and country to draw inspiration from Sandeng’s courage and to remain vigilant in the face of complacency or regression.
“Solo Sandeng was killed for demanding a better future for our country,” Darboe said. “His legacy will continue to inspire us to strive for a brighter tomorrow.”
The UDP leader’s remarks resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom had travelled from various parts of the United States and beyond to attend the gathering. The event served not just as a political meeting, but also as a space for remembrance, reflection, and recommitment to the values for which Solo Sandeng gave his life.
Darboe’s tribute comes at a time when The Gambia is still grappling with the aftermath of two decades of dictatorship. While the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) has concluded its work and presented its findings, the path to justice and institutional reform remains ongoing.
For many Gambians, Solo Sandeng has come to symbolise the price paid for freedom. His death, once a dark stain on the nation’s conscience, is now remembered as the spark that lit the fire of change.
