Bensouda’s decision to step down came shortly after he underwent a public vetting process as a contender for the UDP flagbearer in the 2026 presidential elections.
His exit was followed by a wave of resignations, including Yahya Karafa Sonko, the party’s National Campaign Manager, who announced his departure in a letter dated 11th September 2025.
In his resignation letter, Sonko stated that his decision was based on principle, stressing that he could no longer “in good conscience” lead campaigns for a party whose values he could not endorse. He added that he did not believe the UDP currently has a winning candidate.
Other officials who resigned include Tombong Saidy, who held multiple roles such as Administrative Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Administrative Secretary for Media and Communication.
Diaspora representatives, Baboucarr Jammeh “Loppy,” Malick Sowe, Makam Sowe, M.L. Fatty, and senior member Yusufa Darboe have all formally announced their departure.
In his resignation letter, Malick Sowe expressed disappointment with what he described as a departure from the principles on which the UDP was founded.
He lamented that the party no longer reflected internal democracy, justice, and equality, and criticized the treatment of Talib Bensouda as a sign of deeper problems within the organization.
“The wrongful treatment of Mr. Talib Ahmed Bensouda, a dedicated and visionary son of The Gambia, is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a deeper malaise,” Sowe wrote.
He added that if someone of Bensouda’s caliber could be sidelined, then “the prospect of a fair and meritocratic path to leadership within the UDP is an illusion.”
Sowe concluded that his decision to resign was final, emphasizing that he could not remain in a party that, in his view, had strayed from its core values and failed to nurture its brightest talents.
The mass resignations have left the UDP facing one of its most serious internal crises ahead of the 2026 presidential race, with questions looming over the party’s unity and future direction.
