By Alieu Ceesay
The Unite Movement for Change (UMC) on Saturday staged its inaugural political Congress, formally launching the new party and electing Kanifing Municipal Council Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda as its leader as the country gears up for the December 2026 general elections.
Supporters clad in the party’s blue and white colors filled the venue, waving flags and chanting slogans in a display of energy and optimism that marked what organizers described as the beginning of a new chapter in Gambian politics.
In a rousing address, Bensouda declared that Gambians are ready for “a new direction” built on competence, discipline, and national service rather than personal ambition.
“Today is not an ordinary political gathering; today is a declaration that the Gambian people are ready to move forward,” he told the charged crowd. “Our country deserves leadership that is competent, disciplined, and prepared to govern. Politics must once again become a tool of national service and not personal and political survival.”
The mayor, who has built a reputation for hands-on governance in Kanifing, positioned the UMC as a broad-based national movement rather than a personality-driven project.
“Unite is a political national movement not built around one man but built on a mission to unite Gambian people, restore confidence in public leadership, and transform the future of our dear republic,” Bensouda emphasized.
He painted a sobering picture of the challenges facing ordinary citizens: youth unemployment, rising cost of living, struggling farmers, and persistent gaps in basic services such as roads, water, electricity, and healthcare.
“For too long our people have carried frustration in silence,” he said. “Young people graduate without certainty, families struggle with the rising cost of living… and this is why this movement is born and it will win the 2026 elections.”
Bensouda drew on his experience as mayor to argue that tangible results, not rhetoric, should be the measure of leadership. He called for accountability in governance while warning against the weaponization of state institutions.
“I respect the law and accountability, and no one should be above the law, but justice must never be selective, institutions must never become political weapons,” he stated.
The Congress also elected a full slate of national executives to steer the party into the 2026 campaign.
Elected officials includes, Party Leader: Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, National President: Ebrima Dibba, Deputy National President: Tijan Camara, National Coordinator: Habib Ceesay, Deputy Party Leader (Political and Media Affairs): Kemo Bojang, Deputy Party Leader (Governance and Public Policy): Nenneh Freeda Gomez, Deputy Party Leader (Campaigning and Mobilising): Karafa Sonko, Deputy Party Leader (Admin and Finance): Yaya Sanyang, Secretary General: Demba Kanteh, Deputy Secretary General: Musa Camara, National Campaign Manager: MC Cham Jr, Secretary for Foreign Affairs: Jai Paul Thakur and National Women’s President: Matty Kanyi.
Party officials said the newly elected leadership reflects UMC’s commitment to inclusive representation and grassroots mobilization.
With just months to the December 2026 presidential and parliamentary elections, Saturday’s Congress signals the formal entry of a new player into an increasingly competitive political landscape. Bensouda and his team will now focus on converting the enthusiasm displayed at the Congress into a nationwide structure capable of challenging established parties.
Some Political Analysts say the movement’s emphasis on youth empowerment, rural development, institutional reform, and practical governance could resonate with voters frustrated by persistent economic hardships and perceived political fatigue.
As the electoral season intensifies, all eyes will be on whether UMC can translate its energetic launch and clear messaging into votes across the country’s diverse regions.
