Talib Ahmed Bensouda


Talib Ahmed Bensouda is a Gambian politician who has served as the mayor of the Kanfing Municipal Council since May 2018. He is a member of the United Democratic Party 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. He also completed his Insurance Foundation Diploma from the West African Insurance Institute in 2012.

Career

Talib Ahmed Bensouda worked as an insurance salesperson with Gray Power Insurance in Canada. He also worked with 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, a junk collection company that sells recycling to Toronto Waste Management Company, as a sales lead. 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. Between 2013 and 2018, Bensouda was engaged in various entrepreneurial ventures and community initiatives.

Mayor of KMC

Talib Ahmed Bensouda was first elected as the mayor of KMC in 2018. He contested under the United Democratic Party, 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 20th May 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 flag bearer for the 2026 Gambian presidential election.
Saturday 6th September 2025, Talib has withdrawn his candidacy for the United Democratic Party 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.

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.