Talib Ahmed Bensouda, Mayor of Kanifing
By Makutu Manneh
Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council, said that political attacks directed at him and his fledgling political platform, the Unite Movement for Change, have only deepened his resolve and sense of purpose.
Speaking in remarks that blended confidence with defiance, Mr. Bensouda said the attention itself was evidence that his movement was striking a chord. “I do not understand how a three-month-old political platform that is not even registered can be the most talked-about entity in the country,” he said.
The mayor suggested that criticism and scrutiny were signs that his message was resonating beyond established political circles. “We have not come to be quiet,” he added. “We are here to disrupt the political landscape for the better.”
Mr. Bensouda framed his response to critics as a rejection of what he described as personality-driven politics, arguing instead for competition rooted in policy ideas. Any political rival, he said, should engage in concrete plans for young people, women, and the country’s future, rather than personal attacks.
“We want to change this country for the better; the legacy we would like to leave is a transformed Gambia, one that does not depend on strong men but strong institutions,” he said.
Asked about reports of tensions between him and Momodou Sabally, a former government official and political commentator, Mr. Bensouda dismissed the suggestion. “There is nothing between me and Sabally,” he said, adding with a note of irony, “I have many fans, and I think he is one of them.”
The mayor attributed some of the criticism to his age and rapid rise in public life. As he is widely regarded as the youngest person to hold the office, Mr. Bensouda said some observers may be unsettled by the speed of his ascent. “Maybe some people think I am rising too fast,” he said.
He also said he had encountered resentment from those who believe he should not be involved in politics because of his relatively comfortable background. Such views, he argued, reflect a belief that politics is primarily a means of personal advancement.
“For many reasons, I think they are just people who hate my presence in politics, and they cannot help it,” Mr. Bensouda said. “But I do not care. I am not doing it for anybody; I am doing it for my country.”
He added that he pays little attention to personal attacks. “I don’t even know what some of these people say about me,” he said.
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