APP-Sobeyaa leader Essa Mbye Faal has condemned recent ethnic remarks directed at UNITE leader and Kanifing Municipal Council Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, describing them as “horrible” and warning political leaders against allowing tribal and religious divisions to shape the 2026 presidential campaign.
Speaking in an interview with West Coast Radio, Faal said attacks based on ethnicity, religion or family background had no place in Gambian politics and urged political leaders to take greater responsibility for the conduct of their supporters.
“The other day I saw statements directed at Talib Bensouda; I think that was absolutely wrong,” Faal said. “It was horrible. This is wrong; it should not happen in our country.”
His comments follow a widely circulated audio recording in which Imam Daaru Sanyang questioned aspects of Bensouda’s family background and Gambian identity.
Faal said political disagreements should never be allowed to develop into attacks based on a candidate’s ethnic or religious identity. He also referred to remarks directed at United Democratic Party leader Ousainou Darboe, saying similar rhetoric was unacceptable regardless of the political figure being targeted.
The former presidential candidate placed part of the responsibility for the persistence of tribal divisions on political leaders themselves.
“We leaders feed this thing,” he said. “We feed this animal.”
Faal argued that political leaders must do more than sign agreements or make public declarations against tribalism. They should actively challenge divisive rhetoric, including when it comes from people who identify with or support their political movements.
He called for stronger institutions and a broader national effort to address ethnic and social divisions, pointing to the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission process as an example of how difficult national questions can be addressed through structured and inclusive dialogue.
Faal’s comments come as political activity intensifies ahead of the December 5 presidential election, raising concerns that competition among parties and candidates could increasingly be accompanied by identity-based rhetoric.
He said The Gambia belongs equally to all its citizens and urged political leaders to ensure that electoral competition does not undermine the country’s social cohesion.
For Faal, confronting tribalism requires more than condemning individual incidents after they occur. It requires political leaders to take responsibility for the tone of public debate and collectively discourage rhetoric that risks deepening divisions among Gambians.
