Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The newly formed United Movement for Change (UMC), associated with Banjul Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, is set to be officially registered as a political party, according to credible sources within the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), effectively quashing reports that the party’s registration had been blocked.
The development comes after a purported IEC press release circulated on social media claiming that the UMC’s registration remained pending because the individual identified as the party’s leader was still an active member of the United Democratic Party (UDP).
However, sources familiar with the registration process told The Gambia Journal that the document was fake and did not originate from the electoral commission.
According to the sources, the IEC met on Tuesday and validated the registration of the United Movement for Change along with another political party. An official announcement confirming the registrations is expected within the coming days.
The revelation marks a significant boost for Bensouda and his supporters, who have been closely watching the fate of the UMC amid growing speculation about his political future and possible presidential ambitions.
Had the circulating document been genuine, it would have raised serious legal and political questions about the party’s eligibility for registration and Bensouda’s ability to lead a new political movement while retaining membership in the UDP. Instead, the latest information suggests that the registration process has proceeded successfully and that no such obstacle exists.
The fake press release briefly fueled speculation that the UMC’s emergence had encountered a major setback. Its claim that registration was being withheld because the party’s leader remained a member of another political party was widely shared on social media before being discredited.
The anticipated registration of the UMC is expected to reshape The Gambia’s political landscape ahead of future electoral contests. The party has attracted considerable attention due to its association with Bensouda, one of the country’s most prominent opposition figures and a politician widely viewed as a potential contender in the 2026 presidential election.
Once formally announced by the IEC, the UMC will join the growing list of registered political parties eligible to participate in the country’s democratic process, providing Bensouda and his allies with an official political platform from which to pursue their agenda.
The IEC has yet to issue a public statement on the matter, but internal sources indicated that the commission’s validation of the party’s registration has already been concluded and that a formal announcement is imminent.
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