Talib Ahmed Bensouda, Mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council, has officially withdrawn his candidacy for the United Democratic Party (UDP) flagbearer position ahead of the party’s selection day, scheduled for Wednesday, 10 September 2025.
In a surprise move, Bensouda also tendered his resignation as the UDP’s National Organising Secretary with immediate effect.
The announcement was made via a video message shared on his official social media platforms, which quickly went viral. In the statement, Bensouda emphasised the importance of constructive political discourse, stating: “Politics is not a game of insult; it is a game of ideas.”
His withdrawal comes amid heightened internal debates within the UDP over leadership succession, as the party prepares for the 2026 presidential election. Bensouda, widely regarded as a rising figure within the party, had been seen by many as a symbol of generational change.
