Councillors of the Kanifing Municipal Council have rejected the government's recommendation to remove Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda from office. The decision was made during a council meeting, where 15 councillors voted against the removal, two abstained, and one voted in favour. This outcome represents a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the municipal authority and central government officials.
The government's recommendation was based on a Presidential Commission of Inquiry, which Mayor Bensouda described as a politically-motivated exercise targeting KMC. He alleged that the commission was a retaliation against the council, following allegations made against former KMC Chief Executive Officer Sainabou Martin Sonko in 2020 and 2021. The mayor claimed that a joint investigation conducted by officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Local Government had vindicated the council's position.
Mayor Bensouda questioned the timing and conclusions of the White Paper, noting that the Commission concluded its work several months before the report was made public. He argued that the commission itself had identified broader structural challenges affecting local government administration rather than assigning personal liability to individual officers. The mayor used the occasion to renew calls for decentralisation reforms, saying local governments require greater authority over resources and personnel management.
The mayor challenged recommendations for criminal investigations into three specific matters cited in the White Paper. These include allowances paid to councillors, the Mbalit Project, and the payment of approximately D13.1 million in customs duties on waste collection trucks. Bensouda maintained that all major decisions under scrutiny were collectively approved by the council and relevant oversight bodies.
The outcome of the council meeting is expected to have far-reaching political and administrative implications, as it signals strong backing for Mayor Bensouda from the elected representatives serving on the council. The government's recommendation had generated considerable public debate and heightened tensions between the municipal authority and central government officials.
Mayor Bensouda stressed that KMC is an autonomous institution elected by the people and cannot be directed by the executive branch. He said the council had a responsibility to publicly discuss and respond to the White Paper. The mayor's address to the councillors was a clear indication of his commitment to defending the council's decisions and actions.
The rejection of the government's recommendation has raised questions about the next steps in the process and how the matter will be resolved. The council's decision has demonstrated its independence and willingness to challenge the government's authority. The development is likely to have significant implications for the relationship between the municipal authority and central government officials in Gambia.
Key points
- The Kanifing Municipal Council's rejection of the government's recommendation to remove Mayor Bensouda demonstrates strong backing for the mayor from the elected representatives.
- Mayor Bensouda described the Presidential Commission of Inquiry as a politically-motivated exercise targeting KMC.
- The council's decision has raised questions about the next steps in the process and how the matter will be resolved.
