Gambia election nominees include Barrow and Bensouda

The Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission announced five official candidates for the December 5 presidential election, including President Adama Barrow, main opposition leader Ousainou Darboe and youth-backed contender Talib Ahmed Bensouda.

The commission announced the nominees on Thursday, November 12, after receiving 18 presidential nomination requests and meeting candidates over about a week and a half to review paperwork. It was not immediately clear whether more candidates would be named. Two weeks of campaigning are due to begin on Monday, November 16.

Barrow, who leads the National People's Party, is seeking a third term. The country's 1997 constitution allows a president to serve beyond two terms, although lawmakers have twice rejected draft constitutions that would have introduced term limits.

Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party and a former vice president, is making his fifth presidential run after finishing as runner-up in earlier races.

Bensouda, who formed the Unite party after leaving the United Democratic Party last year, resigned last Friday as mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, near Banjul, to pursue the presidency. His nomination follows a late-October government report that recommended his removal from office and accused him of financial impropriety. His party called the report a "political manoeuvre."

The other nominees announced were physician Isatou Touray, described as the country's first woman presidential nominee, and Modou Lamin Sima of the Alliance of Progressive Citizens.