By Fatou Sillah
The mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council and leader of the Unite Movement for Change (UMC), Talib Ahmed Bensouda, has declared his party the largest political force in The Gambia, just six months after its establishment.
Speaking to supporters at a UMC rally in Buffer Zone, Bensouda said the movement’s rapid rise had exceeded expectations and was driven by widespread public support.
“In just six months, I am declaring the Unite Movement for Change the biggest political party in The Gambia,” he said. “This is something we only dreamt of half a year ago, and today we are grateful. The reason Unite is what it is today is because of the Gambian people.”
Bensouda said the party was founded to redefine the country’s political culture, moving away from what he described as insults, division, and negativity.
“When we started UMC, many said Gambian politics is dirty and divisive. We wanted to build a movement that brings change—one that wipes the tears of women and young people,” he said.
He emphasized that the movement is grounded in principles of honesty, discipline, and unity, while rejecting tribalism and religious discrimination.
“Unite stands for truth, discipline, and honesty. We are committed to fighting tribalism and ending discrimination based on religion or ethnicity,” he said.
According to Bensouda, national progress depends on collective unity, which he said forms the foundation of the movement’s vision.
“If The Gambia is to move forward, it must do so as one people. That is what gave birth to the Unite Movement for Change and why it is now the fastest-growing political platform in the country,” he said.
He also dismissed early skepticism about the party’s viability, noting that critics had predicted internal divisions.
“When we started, many doubted us. Some said we would not progress; others said our first congress would divide us. But as always, while others talk, we continue to work,” he said.
Bensouda added that political success requires commitment and sacrifice rather than rhetoric.
“Politics is not about big talk. Like nation-building, it is about those willing to sacrifice and work for the people. That is what moves a political party forward,” he said.
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