Talib Ahmed Bensouda

Talib Ahmed Bensouda (born in 1986) is a Gambian politician who has served as the mayor of the Kanfing Municipal Council (KMC) since May 2018. He is a member of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and has won re-election in 2023 KMC.

Early life and education Talib Ahmed Bensouda was born in 1986 in Bakau. His Father is Ahmed Bensouda, former Permanent Secretary in Dawda Jawara's regime and his mother is Amie Drammeh Bensouda. Talib attended Marina International School and graduated in 2003 upon completion of his IGCS. He later moved to Hamilton, Canada where he studied for a college diploma, and then moved to the city of Mississauga, where he enrolled in the University of Toronto to earn his Bachelor's degree in Economics and Communications Technology in 2007. In 2010 he returned to the Gambia and was employed by Takaful Gambia Limited, an Islamic Insurance Institute as a marketing manager where he served as marketing manager until 2013. and received 29,325 votes. His closest rival Rambo Jatta of the APRC got 17,392. Since his election in 2018, as mayor of KMC.

Under Mayor Bensouda's leadership, the KMC launched the flagship Mbalit Project. The project reintroduce regular residential and commercial waste collection and operates a fleet of 24 new garbage trucks. The Council also implemented a Zero Waste strategy, fenced the Bakoteh dumpsite, and distributed hundreds of dustbins in KM.

Re-election Bensouda was re-elected as the mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council on 20 May 2023 Gambian local elections under UDP ticket again . He secured 56,094 votes while his closest rival National People's Party's Bakary Y Badjie got 42,432 and independent candidate Pa Modou Mbowe got 5,092 votes under APRC no to alliance faction.

In 2024, Talib was alleged that he wanted to join the ruling National People’s Party, Bensouda debunked the accusation. In 2025, Talib entered the race as the flag-bearer for United Democratic Party. In September 2025, he wanted be elected as the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) flag bearer for the 2026 Gambian presidential election.

Saturday 6 September 2025, Talib has withdrawn his candidacy for the United Democratic Party (UDP) flagbearership and resigned as the party’s National Organizing Secretary.

Honours and recognition Bensouda was honored by the Soninkara Youth Community in New York for his public service. In 2024, he was selected for France's PIPA (Future Leaders Invitation Programme).

Presidential ambition and UMC Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda has launched the Unite Movement for Change shortly after withdrawing from the UDP flagbearership race and resigning as the party’s organizing secretary . He says the new initiative aims to unite Gambians around the values of integrity, transformation, and inclusion ahead of the 2026 elections. Bensouda’s party the Unite Movement for Change (UMC) held its inaugural congress On 17 May 2026. He was elected by delegates as the party's leader. Other members of the national executive were also elected. After the congress the party held its first public rally at the Buffer Zone in the Kanifing Municipality. His party UMC submitted application for registration on 1 December 2025. After the Independent Electoral Commission determined that it had met all the legal requirements for registration. It was officially registered as a political party by the Commission on 15 April 2026. Following its registration, the number of registered political parties in The Gambia increased to 24.