Bakary Bunja Darbo

Bakary Bunja Darbo (born 1946) is a Gambian politician, economist and lawyer who was vice president of the Gambia from 1982 to 1992. Born in Dumbutto village, Western Kiang, The Gambia, he has held various roles in The Gambia's political and administrative landscape. A member of the Mandinka ethnic group, Dabo’s career spans public administration, diplomacy, banking, and opposition politics.

Darboe is veteran Gambian politician, who has had a career spanning several decades, beginning in the 1980s. Darboe first entered the political arena as a member of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), where he held key positions and contributed to the governance and development of the country during the first republic under Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara.

During the 1994 coup in The Gambia, Dabo a finance minister at the time fled to Dakar, Senegal with former president Jawara. But he later returned to serve as minister of finance under the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC). However, he resigned on October 10, 1994. He was accused by the junta of being part of the November 11 foiled coup. Following these events, Dabo fled again, first to Senegal and later to the United Kingdom, where he continued to actively oppose the government of Yahya Jammeh. In the post-Yaya Jammeh era, he continued to engage actively in the political process of the Gambia despite his age.