Africa-Press – Gambia. Talib Ahmed Bensouda, mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, has ruled out returning to the United Democratic Party (UDP), even if offered the party’s flagbearer position for the 2026 presidential elections. Speaking in an interview with Deutsche Welle, Mr. Bensouda said his decision to leave the UDP stems from differences in political vision, not personal ambition.
“With the UDP, I believe there are possibilities for partnerships. Like I said, this is not an issue of self-interest or me personally wanting to be president; it is an issue of a different belief I have about how democratic entities should be run,” he said.
Mr. Bensouda explained that his new political movement is rooted in a desire to prioritize issue-based politics and national development over personality-driven campaigns.
“This decision is not personal at all; it is just a difference in views. One thing I want to divorce myself from is personality politics, and that’s something that is done a lot in Gambia. You seldom hear politicians talking about issues; they spend all their time up to the point of elections talking about each other, so this movement is different,” he said.
He emphasized that the initiative is not intended to undermine the UDP. “I think there is a lot of propaganda about this movement; it is not an anti-UDP movement. I have actually sat with many UDP figures and told them I don’t want anybody to leave UDP, thinking that there is some opportunity here for your self-interest. I am certainly not encouraging anybody to leave any party. I’m saying if you believe in this movement, wherever you are from, whoever you are, you are more than welcome,” he said.
The mayor said the new platform will focus on transparency, accountability, and national development.
“We are not opposed to individuals; we are opposed to poverty, corruption, and backwardness. What we want is a genuine transformation in The Gambia. We would like to work with everybody as far as it is aligned with our principles and values and our vision for the country,” he said.
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