Claim: When I was called and informed that Talib would give the youths who were deported D220, 0000, I told them that was great. That fund is Gambian taxpayers’ money, so it should be. It does not come from Talib’s pocket.
Source: Modou Kanyi popularly known as “Typical Badibunka” on TikTok
Verdict: FALSE
Claim
In a viral TikTok video shared by Fatou Jagne-The Activist, Modou Kanyi (Typical Badibunka) was heard saying that the new Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) initiative for ‘backway’ returnees is “Taxpayers’ Money” not from Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda’s pocket.
The ‘backway’ is a popular term used to refer to irregular migration.
On the 25th of September 2025, Mayor Bensouda in a Facebook post announced that KMC is one of six cities to benefit from $450,000 which is equivalent to GMD 33 Million from the Mayors Migration Council under the Global Cities Fund for Refugees and Migrants.
Mayor Bensouda said the funding will help to launch small businesses for back way returnees with D220,000 for each selected youth, and provide continuous support to ensure they grow and create new opportunities for all youths.
In response to this, Typical Badibunka claims that the money is Gambian taxpayers’ money not from the pocket of Mayor Bensouda:
“When I was called and informed that the youths that were deported Talib will give them each D220, 0000 I told them that is great. That fund is Gambian taxpayers money so that should be. It does not come from Talib’s pocket. That should not buy you and take your integrity. It is your taxpayers money. We should learn and be wise enough to know that Gambians. When he (Talib) was campaigning did he give you that money?”
Modou Kanyi (Typical Badibunka) is largely follower by 175.9 thousand TikTok users. He also follows 9,956 users on the same platform.
The video extracted from his TikTok live is shared by Fatou Jagne-The Activist who has 184.4 thousand followers, and follows 341 people on TikTok.
At the time of the screenshot of the video, it was liked by 946 people, 176 people commented on it, 56 people shared the video, and 111 people added the video to their favourites. This is the link to the video: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMAmcJ4Y2/
Fact-check
As the video went viral, Fact-check Gambia deemed it necessary to fact-check the claim that the project is Gambian taxpayers money.
Mayor Bensouda in a Facebook post announced that KMC is one of six cities to benefit from $450,000 which is equivalent to GMD 33 Million from the Mayors Migration Council under the Global Cities Fund for Refugees and Migrants.
Kemo Bojang, Youth Councillor at KMC, refutes the claim that the fund is taxpayers money.
“First of all the funds aren’t tax payers money but a grant from the Mayors Migration Council. KMC is not the first council [that the] Mayors Migration Council assisted with this project. This year, we are with five other cities who are also given money to see how we can help migrants. So our project is a two year project, so the $450,000 (D 33 Million) is a grant and event our butut (the smallest currency denomination) is not part of it,” Bojang said.
Hon. Bojang said the project will help migrants with psychosocial support for a two-year period as well as training. He said during the training, the migrants will receive funding.
“After the completion of the training that is the time they (migrants) will receive the fund. Because in the Gambia what usual happens is that people trained with skills but are not given the money to invest. For us, that is what we want to change. For us, even if only one person make it, that would be a success story because reintegration is problem for migrants in this country,” he said.
The Mayors Migration Council is a mayor-led coalition that accelerates ambitious global action on migration and displacement.
It further indicated that the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees channels financial and technical resources directly to city governments, so mayors can address urgent needs while building the case for sustained investment and lasting change.
Further inquiry has shown that Kanifing Municipality is listed among the Cities across the world who are taking action to address the needs of migrant, displaced, and marginalized people through the Global Cities Fund For Migrants and Refugees.
List of Cities
This list shows that the fund the KMC Mayor announced is indeed from the Mayors Migration Council under its Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees.
Kany’s Response
When contacted to react to our fgindings, Modou Kanyi said the following: “After my video, I was later called by someone and the person explained to me that the money is not the taxpayers’ money. The money is not even in the country right now.”
Verdict
Based on our research, the fund KMC is on the verge of distributing to migrant returnees is not monies derived from “Gambian taxpayers”.
Therefore, the claim made by Modou Kanyi (Typical Badibunka) is FALSE.
