By Fatou Sillah
Political analyst Musa Jeng has identified Talib Ahmed Bensouda, mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council and leader of the Unite Movement for Change (UMC), as the most viable candidate to lead a unified opposition coalition ahead of the next presidential elections.
In an interview with West Coast Radio, Jeng described Bensouda as “the figure most capable of delivering victory” for a united front against the ruling party.
Jeng proposed the formation of a coalition platform, which he referred to as “Sopi Gambia,” to bring together opposition parties under a common agenda. He emphasized that the coalition would not belong to any single party, including the United Democratic Party (UDP) or the People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), allowing other prominent leaders, such as Mama Kandeh and Essa Faal, to participate without partisan constraints.
Once the coalition agrees on a shared message, Jeng said, it would be critical to select a leader willing to step aside from partisan politics. He suggested that the UDP flagbearer, Ousainu Darboe, could serve as a transitional figure. Still, he expressed a personal preference for Bensouda, noting that his leadership would likely secure an immediate electoral advantage.
“I would have loved for Talib Ahmed Bensouda to be that person because for me it’s victory right away,” Jeng said.
He also warned that if opposition parties fail to compromise, a third force could emerge, potentially fragmenting the opposition and weakening its electoral chances. “The other option is what they call the third option, meaning the NPP would stand on its own, the UDP on its own, and all other forces—PDOIS, UMC, Mama Kandeh, even newly formed parties—would unite and wage a campaign against these two parties,” he explained.
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