IEC Warning Sparks Tension as United Movement for Change Pushes Ahead with Congress Plans

Tensions are rising in The Gambia’s political landscape after the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) issued a warning to movements intending to hold congresses or nominate candidates without full legal status.

The development comes in the wake of plans by the United Movement for Change, led by Kanifing Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, to hold its first congress and formally endorse a candidate ahead of the December presidential election.

However, information reaching our newsroom indicates that the movement has no intention of suspending its activities, maintaining that the IEC does not have the legal authority to block its internal processes.

UMC has already submitted documentation for party registration, but approval remains pending—raising concerns among supporters about the timing of the process and questions over the independence of the electoral body, just eight months before the polls.

With the election season approaching, political tensions are steadily building, and debates around legality, fairness, and democratic space are beginning to take centre stage.