By Makutu Manneh
Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council and leader of the Unite Movement for Change, said on Monday that presidential hopefuls should be judged by their character, competence, and experience—not by their age.
Speaking on Coffee Time With Peter Gomez, Mr. Bensouda was asked whether The Gambia is prepared to entrust the presidency to a younger generation. He dismissed age as a meaningful benchmark.
“What matters are your character, your reputation, and your capacity,” he said. “Those are the things that speak to your ability to run a country.”
Mr. Bensouda noted that The Gambia has previously been led by relatively young presidents, pointing to Sir Dawda Jawara, who assumed office in 1965, and Yahya Jammeh. The frequent use of the term “young,” he suggested, is often imprecise.
“In The Gambia, when people say ‘young,’ they might be referring to someone in their 50s, 40s, or even 20s,” he said. “So what does ‘young’ really mean in terms of age?
The mayor emphasized the country’s demographics, noting that an estimated 60 to 70 percent of the population is youthful. Asked whether that demographic is ready to support a leader as young as himself, Mr. Bensouda replied in the affirmative, citing his record.
“It generally is. That is why I mentioned President Jawara and Jammeh. I am older than both when they were vying for office. I am 40 this year, and I am a two-term mayor. I am not just any young person. I have run local governance for 10 years.”
Mr. Bensouda argued that his electoral victories were based on merit and experience, adding that no Gambian president before him had won office after governing at the local level. He contrasted that path with political trajectories in countries like Turkey and the United States, where aspiring national leaders often serve as mayors, governors, or legislators before seeking the highest office.
“I believe that experience is needed as that capacity is built over time. The learning curve is a lot smaller,” he said.
Calls for younger leadership, Mr. Bensouda added, should be understood as a reflection of the country’s population—not a dismissal of experience, but a demand that leadership mirrors the nation it serves.
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