Mayor Bensouda Says UNITE and NUP Plan to Merge Into One Political Party

By Fatou Sillah

Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the leader of UNITE and presidential candidate of Coalition 2026, said UNITE and the National Unity Party are working toward merging into a single political party, building on an alliance the two groups formed ahead of the December presidential election.

In an interview with Eye Africa TV, Mr. Bensouda said the two parties share similar political foundations and ultimately intend to operate under one platform. He cautioned, however, that the merger would be undertaken gradually as the parties work through internal arrangements.

“We want to merge UNITE and NUP together to become one party instead of UNITE and NUP because we have similar foundations,” Mr. Bensouda said.

He said cooperation between the two groups predates their current alliance, noting that the late leader of the NUP endorsed his successful campaign for re-election as mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council in 2023.

Mr. Bensouda said that relationship has continued under the NUP’s current leader, Lamin J. Darboe, whom he described as supportive of closer cooperation between the parties.

“There are a lot of things that we are arranging internally, but our intention is to become one political platform,” Mr. Bensouda said. “But we don’t want to rush it.”

UNITE and the NUP formally signed a political alliance agreement on Aug. 4, establishing a partnership ahead of The Gambia’s presidential election on Dec. 5.

At the time, the parties said the alliance would be based on a common platform emphasizing democratic governance, national unity, accountable leadership, and inclusive development.

Mr. Bensouda’s latest remarks suggest the partnership is intended to extend beyond an electoral alliance, with the two organizations now considering a full merger into a single political party.