The Gambia’s newest opposition party’s leader, whose whereabouts has been a subject of wild speculation amid reports of threats on his life is ready to re-surface.
Speaking to The Daily News from an undisclosed location, Mai Fatty said his party, Gambia Moral Congress will contest for seats in the country’s March 29 National Assembly election.
“We still don’t accept the results of the presidential elections, but we will not boycott the parliamentary election,” he said.
Mr Fatty, who had only returned from exile during the presidential election campaign, retreated to the unknown after President YahyaJammeh was declared winner even though the main opposition-UDP, the party GMC threw weight behind, rejected the results.
On the eve of the voting, he organised a news conference on the death threats he claimed to be receiving ever since his return.
“I have in the past received threats to my life and there are conspiracies against me, but I am not deterred,” Mr Fatty said. “I will continue to partake in the country’s political activities. If I have to die, I am ready for that. If I have to go to jail, I am ready for that too.”
 A trained lawyer, whose earlier exit came after he had a controversial car crash, Mai said he may contest in the National Assembly elections.
“Negotiations for my candidacy are undergoing, but everything is not finalised yet,” he added. “I believe that a politician should have a constituency.”
Mr Fatty cited examples of countries like US, UK and neighbouring Senegal, among others, where leaders served as parliamentarians before assuming presidency.
“This is where you engage the government at the more intimate level. If you exclude yourself, you will be advantaged,” he said.
Mr Fatty said GMC will go into strategic alliance with its United Alliance partner, UDP. “We will go in for areas where we have strength and support UDP where they have chance of winning.”
He however added that his party is open to an overall strategic alliance of all non-ruling party aligned opposition parties.