Bensouda Warns Dalasi Could Weaken Further if Barrow Wins Another Term

By Fatou Sillah

Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the mayor of Kanifing Municipality and presidential candidate of Coalition 2026, has warned that the Gambian Dalasi could depreciate further against the CFA franc if President Adama Barrow secures another term in office, arguing that the country needs leadership with a stronger grasp of economic policy to address its mounting challenges.

Speaking at a Coalition 2026 rally in Jookul, Niamina East, in the Central River Region South, Mr. Bensouda said the cost of exchanging CFA francs had risen sharply under the Barrow administration and cautioned that the situation could deteriorate further.

He claimed that an amount of CFA francs that previously cost between 200 and 230 dalasis now costs approximately 650 dalasis. He warned that the figure could reach 1,000 dalasis if Mr. Barrow remains in power.

The figures and projection could not be independently verified, and Mr. Bensouda did not specify the amount of CFA francs used in his comparison.

“I studied economics, and I know something about economics and foreign exchange,” Mr. Bensouda said, citing his academic background as a basis for his concerns about the Dalasi’s performance.

The opposition candidate argued that addressing the country’s economic difficulties requires a president who understands the forces affecting currency stability and the broader economy.

Mr. Bensouda also criticized the government’s development record, saying that despite his visits to Niamina, he had seen little evidence of meaningful development under the current administration.

He urged residents to support a change in leadership, portraying the December presidential election as an opportunity to reverse what he described as years of economic hardship and inadequate development.

Turning to irregular migration, commonly known in The Gambia as the backway, Mr. Bensouda accused the Barrow administration of failing to adequately address the dangers and underlying causes driving young Gambians to undertake perilous journeys abroad.

He said he had never heard President Barrow meaningfully address the issue, which has remained a major concern for families and communities across the country.

Mr. Bensouda presented UNITE, a political party led by young people, as better positioned to understand and respond to the challenges facing Gambian youth.

He argued that a younger generation of political leaders would bring a deeper understanding of the economic pressures, limited opportunities, and other difficulties confronting young people, making them better equipped to develop policies addressing those concerns.