UNITE accuses Barrow government of distorting commission findings against Bensouda
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Kerr Fatou
Gambian movement UNITE accuses President Adama Barrow’s government of misrepresenting a commission’s findings to undermine Talib Ahmed Bensouda’s presidential candidacy. The accusation concerns the official interpretation of the report and comes amid a challenge to Bensouda’s eligibility, according to Kerr Fatou.
The Gambian party Unite for Integrity, Transformation and Equality (UNITE) has accused President Adama Barrow’s administration of distorting the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into Local Government Authorities in order to undermine the presidential candidacy of Talib Ahmed Bensouda, leader of the Coalition 2026. The party made the accusation in a five-page letter addressed to President Barrow on 2 November 2026.
UNITE says the government’s presentation of the commission’s findings deliberately targets Bensouda, a candidate for an opposition coalition. The letter thus questions the use of a report on local government authorities in the political process targeting his candidacy, according to the party.
The move comes two days after Bensouda’s coalition pledged to resist his exclusion from Gambia’s presidential election on 2 November, and after the candidate accused Adama Barrow on 31 October of blocking his candidacy. It follows Bensouda’s accusations against Barrow and the challenge to his exclusion from Gambia’s presidential election.
