TALIB AHMED BENSOUDA: THE THIRD FORCE SET TO RESHAPE THE GAMBIAN ELECTION

By Tombong Saidy
National Treasurer, UNITE Party

The wind of change is blowing, and Coalition 2026 is at the centre of a growing demand for political renewal.

As The Gambia approaches the December 5, 2026 presidential election, Talib Ahmed Bensouda is emerging as the face of a new political movement seeking to break through traditional party loyalties. Coalition 2026 is presenting itself as the alternative for Gambians yearning for change after years of rising living costs, unemployment, insecurity, pressure on farmers and persistent concerns about corruption.

Bensouda’s political appeal is no longer confined to established opposition supporters. His campaign is attracting voters across party lines, including young people, women, farmers, first-time voters and citizens who remain undecided. This cross-party appeal is the essence of the third-force phenomenon: a new political alternative challenging the old assumptions about who commands the electorate.

The message is clear: Gambians want more than a change of political faces; they want a change in the way their country is governed. Coalition 2026 is positioning Bensouda as the vehicle for that aspiration.

The coming election will prove the strength of this momentum, but the political significance of a candidate attracting support beyond traditional party boundaries cannot be ignored.

Bensouda’s ambition is bigger than challenging the established political order. It is about building a new national consensus for change.

The wind of change is blowing across The Gambia. Coalition 2026 is working to turn that momentum into votes and translate the promise of renewal into a new chapter in the country’s political history.

December 5 will be the moment when the Gambian people will finally decide whether that third force becomes the force of change and hands victory to Talib Ahmed Bensouda as the 4th President of the Republic of The Gambia.

Editor’s Note: This article is an opinion piece written by Tombong Saidy, National Treasurer of the UNITE Party.