By Fatou Sillah
Talib Ahmed Bensouda, leader of the UNITE Party, said that a presidential candidate’s suitability for office should be measured by experience, character, and a record of public service rather than age.
Speaking on the Dialectic Space Podcast, Mr. Bensouda argued that effective leadership depends on the ability to govern institutions and make sound decisions, saying his nearly 10 years as mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) had prepared him for greater national responsibility.
Mr. Bensouda said his tenure at KMC had broadened his understanding of governance, public administration, and stakeholder engagement. He pointed to improvements in municipal service delivery, including waste management, as examples of the experience he believes is relevant to leading the country.
He said his work at the council helped change public perceptions of local government by demonstrating that municipal institutions could deliver tangible improvements in people’s daily lives.
Mr. Bensouda also dismissed the notion that age, gender, or ethnic background should determine a person’s ability to govern, arguing that leadership should instead be judged on integrity, competence, and performance.
“It doesn’t matter at all,” he said. “You have old people who are unscrupulous, you have middle-aged people who can do terrible things, you have young people who are irresponsible; what matters is the content of one’s character.”
He said the lessons he had learned while leading the country’s largest municipality had equipped him with practical experience in governance and administration, which he believes are essential qualifications for national leadership.
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