By Makutu Manneh
Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council and a leading figure in the Unite Movement for Change, on Monday urged opposition parties to pursue unity grounded in shared values and principles, warning against alliances formed solely to unseat an incumbent.
Speaking on Coffee Time With Peter Gomez, Mr. Bensouda said political collaboration ahead of the Dec. 5 presidential election should be driven by a common vision for governance, not by what he described as a narrow focus on regime change.
“That makes absolutely no sense because removing a leader, I do not think, should be the goal. I think the goal should be how to govern the country correctly, how to transform this country, and how to bring better leadership,” he said.
Mr. Bensouda argued that any credible opposition coalition must be built on alignment around values, principles, and long-term priorities. He recalled backing Adama Barrow in 2016, saying the circumstances at the time demanded collective action. But he added that many Gambians now feel that key reforms promised during Mr. Barrow’s first campaign—including constitutional changes and civil and security sector restructuring—have stalled.
He also pointed to persistent economic challenges, particularly youth unemployment, as evidence of unmet expectations. “Productivity is a major issue,” he said. “There are so many factors where performance has fallen short.”
Mr. Bensouda emphasized that opposition unity, if it comes, should be rooted in positive values rather than shared grievances. He cited recent findings from the Center for Research and Policy Studies, which show that roughly two-thirds of respondents said they would not vote for Mr. Barrow, while about one-third indicated support. “Meaning 66% would not. So there is a huge opportunity for the opposition.”
As political maneuvering intensified ahead of December’s vote, Mr. Bensouda framed his message as both a caution and a call to action: unity, he said, must be purposeful—aimed not merely at changing leaders, but at reshaping the country’s future.
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