Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The chairman of the Brikama Area Council, Yankuba Darboe, has launched a series of attacks against Talib Ahmed Bensouda after reacting angrily to allegations circulating on social media about his political loyalty within the opposition United Democratic Party.
The controversy erupted after a Facebook page known as “Liberal Times” claimed that Yankuba Darboe and members of his political camp were no longer actively prioritizing the presidential bid of UDP leader Ousainou Darboe but were instead advancing Yankuba Darboe’s own political ambitions ahead of the 2026 elections.
Social Media Claims Trigger Political Fallout
According to the page, concerns had emerged within sections of the UDP over what it described as declining mobilization efforts in support of the party leader’s presidential campaign.
The claims appeared to provoke a strong reaction from the Brikama Area Council chairman, who responded on Facebook by accusing “Liberal Times” and another platform, “BBC Gambia Baoba Bloomlight Channel,” of being linked to Talib Ahmed Bensouda.
“Liberal Times and BBC Gambia Baoba Bloomlight Channel are Talib Bensouda’s media platforms for lies and misinformation! Decent Gambians should stay away from them! They only traffic misinformation!” Yankuba Darboe wrote.
Attempting to dismiss suggestions of divisions within the UDP, Darboe added in a separate post that there was “only one camp in the UDP” united behind Ousainou Darboe’s presidential ambition.
“There is only one camp in the UDP, and that is the UDP camp, all behind Baba Ousainou ANM Darboe! We are all rooting for his victory in 2026!! Ignore the distractors! They have nothing better to share than misinformation!!!!” he stated.
Unsubstantiated Corruption Allegations Escalate Tensions
However, after responding to the initial allegations concerning his commitment to the UDP leader, Yankuba Darboe broadened his attack by making serious corruption allegations against Talib Bensouda, who is widely seen as a possible presidential contender under the UMC banner.
“We must warn Gambians against Talib Ahmed Bensouda ever becoming President of this country! It would be the worst for this country! If you think Barrow’s government is corrupt, wait till that one dawns on us! The gloves are off!” Darboe wrote.
He further alleged that businesses had approached his office seeking improper arrangements, allegedly referencing practices they associated with Talib Bensouda’s political operations.
“If you know how many businesses came to my office seeking to cut deals, referencing that’s how Talib does it to support himself and the party! Thus, you should do the same! But we refused such graft! I pray Allah save Gambia from such a system!” he stated.
The allegations quickly triggered backlash from supporters of Bensouda and the UMC, with some demanding evidence to substantiate the claims.
Among them was UMC supporter Yunus Hydara, who publicly challenged Yankuba Darboe to identify the businesses he claimed had implicated Talib Bensouda in corrupt dealings.
“Which businesses told you they’ve bribed Talib? Please know that failing to reveal the names of these businesses is in itself an act of corruption. And failing to substantiate this claim is an act of lying and deception,” Hydara wrote.
As pressure mounted over the claims, Yankuba Darboe insisted he possessed evidence and vowed to continue confronting the UMC leader politically.
“Those claiming I have no evidence, please ask Talib about the case of Nuha Ceesay, from Leeds, UK, and why they called him an Englishman for refusing to pay their kickbacks! I will leave the details for later, when they deny it! The gloves are off!” he wrote.
Allies Challenge Darboe to Produce Evidence
The latest allegations were also challenged by Yahya Menteng Sanyang, a close ally of Talib Bensouda, who said he immediately contacted Nuha Ceesay after seeing Yankuba Darboe’s claims.
“I know Nuha Ceesay personally; we come from the same village. I called Nuha right away to ask about Yankuba’s claims. Nuha confirmed he’s never met or spoken to Talib Bensouda. Nuha also stressed that he has no business relationship with KMC and has never signed any contract with them,” Hon. Sanyang said.
The lawmaker further challenged Yankuba Darboe to immediately publish any evidence supporting the allegations.
“I can say with full authority that Yankuba has zero evidence. I challenge you, Yankuba; this is a direct challenge. If you have any evidence, release it now,” Hon. Sanyang added.
However, no documentary material or independently verified evidence was provided publicly by Darboe to support the corruption allegations against Bensouda.
Meanwhile, the Facebook page that triggered the confrontation continued posting claims about internal tensions surrounding Yankuba Darboe’s political positioning. In a post published Thursday, the page alleged that Darboe and members of his team had held a private WhatsApp meeting to manage the fallout from the controversy and redirect attention from questions surrounding his political intentions within the UDP.
The escalating exchange has added to growing public scrutiny over opposition dynamics ahead of the 2026 presidential election, while also exposing deepening tensions between figures associated with the UDP and the UMC.
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