|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Claim: Bakary Y. Badjie, The Gambia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, claimed that Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda has not supported sporting activities in the municipality.
Verdict: False. DUBAWA’s investigation shows that the KMC, under Mayor Bensouda, has organised and sponsored football tournaments and volleyball and basketball competitions, among others.
Full Text
On Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, Minister of Youth and Sports Bakary Y. Badjie claimed that Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda has not supported sporting activities in the Kanifing Municipality. He made the statement while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of an event in Serekunda.
Badjie’s remarks came in response to Bensouda’s promise to construct mini-stadiums if elected president in the December 2026 presidential election.
“All the football facilities in KM were built by the former mayors Lie Conteh and Yankuba Colley,” Badjie said. The immediate past KMC mayor was the late Yankuba Colley, who served the council under the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) regime led by former President Yahya Jammeh.
He further alleged that Bensouda had failed to provide even basic support for sports development since assuming office.
“Since Bensouda came, he hasn’t even bought a single lamp; he doesn’t give any support to the sports committee. He never gave even a D100,000 to the sports committee,” he claimed. Watch the video here on this livestream from 18:08 to 18:25 minutes.
Badjie also challenged the mayor to provide evidence of sports development initiatives undertaken during his tenure.
Talib Ahmed Bensouda came to power as KMC mayor in 2018. He won his second term in 2023, and is now seeking the presidency through the UNITE party, which is rapidly becoming popular.
With The Gambia’s December 2026 presidential election approaching, claims about the records of political figures and public institutions are likely to shape public opinion.
The minister’s remarks were also made in direct response to Bensouda’s campaign pledge on sports infrastructure. Verifying such statements helps voters assess candidates’ records on evidence, particularly when the claims concern public spending and service delivery.
Verification
To verify the minister’s claim, DUBAWA examined available records and reports on sporting activities supported by the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) during Bensouda’s tenure.
Our investigation found evidence of several sports-related activities supported by KMC under Bensouda’s leadership, contradicting the minister’s categorical assertion.
Information published on the KMC website and other available sources indicates that the council supported several sports and youth development initiatives.
In 2018, the council supported a summer youth camp in Ziguinchor, Senegal, followed by another in Guinea-Bissau in 2019.
Records also show that KMC supported the Serekunda East Sports Development Organisation (SESDO) in preparing for its 2019 football final.
Image of a football team that received support from KMC. Source. KMC
Other initiatives reportedly supported by the council include activities organised by the National Volleyball Association, the YMCA’s annual basketball and volleyball tournaments, and the Mayoral Municipal Youth Retreat.
In 2023, the KMC mayor sponsored a grassroots football tournament in Lamin, bringing together local teams from across the area to compete.
Image of Mayor Bensouda handing a trophy to a local football team in Lamin. Source. KMC Facebook
Further evidence emerged during proceedings of the Commission of Inquiry, where Mayor Bensouda was questioned about D235,800 reportedly spent by the council on sports equipment.
A report by Foroyaa provides additional context on the council’s expenditure and financial management.
Meanwhile, in a 2019 report by Paradise TV, Bensouda said the council would continue to support sporting activities after the tournament’s successful completion.
The report stated that the winning team received D150,000, the runners-up received D100,000, and third place received D50,000. Recipients of individual awards also received D5,000 each.
In November 2025, KMC sponsored the maiden Kanifing Municipality Zonal Football Tournament, with a sponsorship package valued at D315,000.
The initiative aimed to promote youth empowerment, community development and peaceful coexistence across the municipality.
These documented examples show that KMC has provided financial and institutional support for sports-related activities under Bensouda’s leadership.
Conclusion
The minister’s claim that KMC under Mayor Bensouda has not supported sporting activities is false. Documented examples include football tournaments, volleyball and basketball competitions, and a 2026 tournament organised under Bensouda’s administration.