By Fatou Sillah
The National Women’s President of the United Movement for Change (UMC), Matty Kanyi, has publicly defended party leader Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, describing him as a hardworking and dedicated politician whose rise in public life reflects merit rather than circumstance.
Speaking at a UMC rally held at the Buffer Zone, Kanyi drew on nearly a decade of close collaboration with Bensouda to vouch for his character and commitment to the party.
“The Lord Mayor is a president today—but he is also the Mayor of KMC,” she told the crowd. “Talib Ahmed Bensouda, what he has today, he deserves it. Since 2017, I have been with Talib, working with him. Talib is not a betrayer.”
Kanyi’s use of the term “president” was understood to reflect her personal conviction that Bensouda will prevail in the upcoming presidential election, rather than a reference to any current office he holds.
She also praised the mayor’s approach to leadership and inclusion, noting that he evaluates people based on their contributions rather than their educational background.
“He did not discriminate between educated and uneducated women—what he sees is your hard work and what you can do,” she said.
Drawing a comparison to the political emergence of former Senegalese official Ousman Sonko, Kanyi framed the large turnout at the rally as a sign of the momentum building behind Bensouda’s candidacy.
“The name of Unite is unity. Today is like the day Ousman Sonko was unveiled in Senegal. This crowd here is what will take Talib Ahmed Bensouda to the Marina Parade on December 5th, 2026,” she said.
Also addressing the rally, UMC Deputy Party Leader for Finance and Administration Yahya Menteng called on regional and constituency chairmen to step up mobilization efforts ahead of the election. He emphasized that resources would flow through party structures at the constituency level, with the national executive playing an oversight role.
“The resources of politics will all come to you, the regional chairmen, and you distribute them to your people. The national executive is just here to supervise,” he said.
Menteng also urged supporters who have yet to obtain voter registration cards to do so before the approaching deadline.
“The registration will close on the 23rd—everyone here without a voter’s card, please go and register and vote,” he said.
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