Coalition 2026 flagbearer and Unite Party leader Mayor Ahmed Talib Bensouda has linked what he described as a rise in crime in The Gambia to President Adama Barrow’s reliance on ECOMIG for national security.

Bensouda criticised the Barrow administration over its handling of the country’s security, arguing that Gambians should have greater control over their own security affairs.

“If you look at the rise in crimes, it is because President Barrow gave our security to ECOMIG. Even his personal security is in the hands of ECOMIG,” Bensouda said.

He said Coalition 2026 would seek to reverse that situation by ensuring that national security is placed in the hands of Gambians.

“If Coalition 2026 comes to power, The Gambia will produce its own electricity, and security will be in the hands of Gambians,” he said.

Bensouda also criticised President Barrow for what he described as a lack of meaningful development since coming to power.

“Since Barrow came to power, he has been doing some things to win election. But he hasn’t done anything meaningful to develop the country,” he said.

He particularly criticised the government’s response to the country’s electricity crisis, saying it became dependent on Senegal for power instead of developing sufficient domestic capacity.

“When he came to power and found that there is an electricity crisis, he ran to President Macky Sall to bail him out,” Bensouda said.

He argued that the dependence on Senegal has now exposed The Gambia to the electricity challenges of its neighbour.

“And now that Senegal is facing an electricity problem, they have stopped supplying us the electricity they used to,” he said.

Bensouda said a Coalition 2026 government would prioritise domestic electricity production while strengthening Gambian control over national security.

By Adama Makasuba