Ousainou Darboe

Ousainou Darboe (born 8 August 1948) is a Gambian politician and leader of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP). He previously served as Vice-President of the Gambia and Minister of Women's Affairs from June 2018 to March 2019, under President Adama Barrow. He also served as President Barrow's Minister of Foreign Affairs from February 2017 to June 2018.

Darboe is a human rights lawyer, and worked for the Attorney General's Chambers before entering private practice. He has served as advisor to several companies and government agencies, and was also for a time the vice president of the Gambia Bar Association. He founded the United Democratic Party (UDP) in 1996 and stood in presidential elections the same year, and has been a presidential candidate in 2001, 2006, and 2021. He was imprisoned in 2016, but released after Barrow's victory.

Darboe is running in the 2026 Gambian presidential election.

== Early life and education ==

Darboe was born in 1948, in Dobbo, the son of Numukunda Darboe, who served as a member of parliament for Lower Falluda West, and as communications secretary for Pierre Sarr N'Jie's United Party. Darboe attended Bansang Primary School and then proceeded...