Bensouda represents a generational shift in Gambian politics, making him the first confirmed aspirant to step forward for the UDP ticket and potentially setting up the most consequential internal contest in the party’s history.
Bensouda, who also serves as the National Organizing Secretary of the UDP, submitted his application to the party’s secretariat earlier yesterday according to Kerr Fatou.
His decision immediately sparked intense debate both within the UDP and across the national political scene, with many observers framing his candidacy as a direct test of whether the country’s largest opposition party will embrace youthful leadership or remain anchored to the legacy of its founding leader, Lawyer Ousainu Darboe. Darboe, who has led the UDP since its establishment in 1996, has already signaled his intention to contest for the flagbearer position once more, though it remains unclear if he has formally submitted his application. Should he do so, the UDP would face a defining internal contest between continuity and renewal, tradition and transformation.
Talib Ahmed Bensouda’s rise to prominence has been anything but ordinary. Born in 1986 in Bakau to a family deeply rooted in Gambian public service, he is the son of Amie Bensouda, the distinguished former Solicitor General, and Ahmed Bensouda, who served under President Dawda Jawara. Educated at Marina International School, he later moved to Canada, where he graduated from the University of Toronto in 2007 with a degree in Economics and Communications Technology. He further strengthened his professional credentials by completing an Insurance Foundation Diploma at the West African Insurance Institute in 2012.
His early career included stints in sales and management in Canada before he returned home in 2010 to join Takaful Gambia Limited as a Marketing Manager. By 2013, he had immersed himself in entrepreneurship and community development, building the foundations of a career that would later catapult him into politics.
In 2018, at just 31 years old, Bensouda made history when he contested and won the mayoral seat of Kanifing, becoming the youngest mayor in Gambian history. Running on the ticket of the UDP, he defeated the APRC’s seasoned politician Rambo Jatta, capturing over 29,000 votes and instantly transforming himself into a rising political star. His victory was hailed as a generational breakthrough, signaling the entry of youthful leadership into the highest tiers of Gambian politics.
As mayor, Bensouda has built a track record that blends innovation, reform, and effective governance. One of his signature initiatives, the Mbalit Project, established The Gambia’s first structured waste collection system. Under his leadership, the Kanifing Municipal Council deployed 24 modern garbage trucks, introduced recycling programs, and rolled out a Zero Waste strategy that redefined urban sanitation. He secured a €3 million grant from the European Union to fund urban renewal projects, which included green spaces, recreational areas, and the construction of the municipality’s first public library and innovation hub. His administration also doubled council revenues by tightening financial controls and streamlining operations, earning him recognition as a reformist who delivers measurable results.
His efforts did not go unnoticed beyond The Gambia. In 2024, Bensouda was invited to France under the prestigious PIPA Future Leaders Program and honored by the Soninkara Youth Community in New York for his transformative leadership. These accolades cemented his reputation as one of Africa’s promising young leaders.
In 2023, Bensouda reaffirmed his political standing by securing re-election as Mayor of Kanifing with a convincing margin, defeating the ruling NPP’s candidate by more than 13,000 votes. That victory consolidated his national appeal, proving that his popularity extended beyond urban elites to ordinary citizens who resonated with his message of clean governance, youthful energy, and forward-looking policies.
With his decision to seek the UDP flagbearer position, Bensouda is positioning himself not just as a local government reformer but as a national leader ready to carry the torch of The Gambia’s largest opposition party. For many young Gambians, his candidacy embodies their aspirations for change, modern leadership, and a break from decades of traditional politics. For others, it represents a bold challenge to a political establishment long dominated by veteran figures.
As the UDP prepares for its internal selection process, the contest between Bensouda and Darboe could mark the most decisive moment in the party’s history. The outcome will not only determine who leads the UDP into the 2026 presidential race but also reveal how the opposition plans to position itself against the incumbent National People’s Party. In this unfolding battle between legacy and renewal, Talib Bensouda has already made one thing clear: he is ready to lead The Gambia into a new era.
