GAMBIA'S YOUNGEST MAYOR BRINGS NEW LIFE TO KANIFING.
Talib Ahmed Bensouda leads his city with fresh ideas. At 31, he became the youngest mayor in Gambian history when voters picked him in 2018. He runs Kanifing Municipality under the United Democratic Party banner.
The young leader studied economics at the University of Toronto. His mother, Amie Bensouda, works as a well-known lawyer. He started his time as mayor by fixing how the council works and making its money matters better.
Bensouda made big changes to keep the streets clean. His team put out 500 trash bins and hired 200 people. He ensured workers got better pay and set up money to help small business owners—D100 million for women and D20 million for young people.
His biggest success came with the 'Mbalit Project.' This plan brought 24 new garbage trucks to pick up trash from homes and shops. Through this program, more than 100 people work to keep the city clean.
The mayor has done much to improve markets. He fixed up places where people sell things in Serekunda and Latrikunda Sabiji and built new roads and drains to prevent floods.
In December 2024, Bensouda opened a new library that cost US$3.5 million. The library helps students learn and provides fast internet to people who need it. The European Union helped pay for this project.
Bensouda works hard to make friends with other cities. He went to France to meet important people there. He talked with leaders in Barcelona and Dakar about ways to improve Kanifing.
The city got a special guest when Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr came to visit on December 19th, 2024. She looked at how Kanifing runs its truck fleet and talked about working together.
The council spent D300 million to fix roads in 2024, and it created new parks for people to enjoy. It wants to do more good things in 2025.
"We want to make life better for everyone here," the council said. They thank all the people who helped make these good things happen.
Talib Ahmed Bensouda leads his city with fresh ideas. At 31, he became the youngest mayor in Gambian history when voters picked him in 2018. He runs Kanifing Municipality under the United Democratic Party banner.
The young leader studied economics at the University of Toronto. His mother, Amie Bensouda, works as a well-known lawyer. He started his time as mayor by fixing how the council works and making its money matters better.
Bensouda made big changes to keep the streets clean. His team put out 500 trash bins and hired 200 people. He ensured workers got better pay and set up money to help small business owners—D100 million for women and D20 million for young people.
His biggest success came with the 'Mbalit Project.' This plan brought 24 new garbage trucks to pick up trash from homes and shops. Through this program, more than 100 people work to keep the city clean.
The mayor has done much to improve markets. He fixed up places where people sell things in Serekunda and Latrikunda Sabiji and built new roads and drains to prevent floods.
In December 2024, Bensouda opened a new library that cost US$3.5 million. The library helps students learn and provides fast internet to people who need it. The European Union helped pay for this project.
Bensouda works hard to make friends with other cities. He went to France to meet important people there. He talked with leaders in Barcelona and Dakar about ways to improve Kanifing.
The city got a special guest when Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr came to visit on December 19th, 2024. She looked at how Kanifing runs its truck fleet and talked about working together.
The council spent D300 million to fix roads in 2024, and it created new parks for people to enjoy. It wants to do more good things in 2025.
"We want to make life better for everyone here," the council said. They thank all the people who helped make these good things happen.
