Talib Bensouda Says UNITE-NUP Alliance Is Driven by National Interest, Not Political Convenience

By Fatou Sillah

Talib Ahmed Bensouda, leader of the UNITE Party, said the newly formed alliance between UNITE and the National Unity Party (NUP) is rooted in national interest rather than political expediency, describing it as a partnership committed to constitutional governance, accountability, and improving the lives of Gambians.

Speaking Tuesday at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties, Mr. Bensouda said the agreement reflects a shared belief that political parties have a responsibility to work together when the country’s interests demand it, despite differences in policy or ideology.

The two parties formally signed the MoU at Pencha MI Hall, establishing a political alliance to jointly contest The Gambia’s presidential election scheduled for Dec. 5, 2026. The ceremony was attended by senior party officials, executive members, and supporters from both organizations.

“This MoU is not founded on political convenience or electoral arithmetic,” Mr. Bensouda said. “It is founded on the conviction that political parties have a duty to work together wherever the national interest demands it.”

He said the partnership also seeks to foster a new political culture built on dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect, arguing that Gambians are looking for practical solutions to the country’s challenges rather than partisan confrontation.

“Gambians are not asking politicians to win arguments; they are asking us to resolve problems,” he said.

Mr. Bensouda said the alliance’s campaign would focus on what he described as the “three Cs” — the cost of living, crime, and corruption—issues he said remain the most pressing concerns for ordinary Gambians.

He also expressed appreciation to NUP leader Lamin J. Darboe and members of his party for what he described as their spirit of cooperation throughout the negotiations.

Mr. Bensouda said the alliance was intended to serve a purpose greater than the interests of either political party, adding that the partnership was aimed at building a more accountable government and a better future for The Gambia.