Talib Ahmed Bensouda, mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council and presidential candidate for Coalition 2026, has urged President Adama Barrow to take a firm stand against ministers whose public statements risk deepening ethnic divisions in The Gambia.
Speaking at a Coalition 2026 rally in Medina Sering Mass, Bensouda said the president should not allow members of his government to use political platforms to make remarks that could undermine national unity.
“President Adama Barrow, you are our president. If your ministers stand on platforms, speaking in tribal lines to divide the people, you as the president should cut their speeches and ask them to leave the meeting ground because they want to divide the country,” he said.
Bensouda argued that the responsibility of the presidency goes beyond securing electoral victories, insisting that national cohesion must remain a priority for anyone entrusted with leading the country. He described tribalism as a threat to development and called on political leaders across the divide to promote unity rather than exploit ethnic differences for political gain.
The Coalition 2026 flagbearer also turned his criticism to the cost of President Barrow’s ongoing Meet the People Tour, questioning whether the government was making the best use of public funds.
Bensouda claimed that D70 million had been allocated to the 19-day tour, amounting to an estimated D3 million a day. He challenged the administration to justify the expenditure at a time when many communities continue to face pressing development needs.
He argued that the money could instead support improvements in underserved areas, including Medina Sering Mass, where residents have their own demands for better services and infrastructure.
Bensouda further accused the government of allowing the tour to become a venue for political attacks against opponents, including himself, rather than concentrating on the concerns of farmers and rural communities. His comments raise questions about the balance between the stated purpose of the tour and its use during a period of intense political competition.
The mayor also addressed speculation about his family background, rejecting claims that he was of Lebanese origin. He maintained that both his parents were born in The Gambia.
