As The Gambia prepares for its upcoming election cycle, youth leaders in the Central River Region (CRR) have highlighted the critical role of civic education in fostering democratic participation and safeguarding peace.
Speaking at a training session on inclusive support for participation, integrity, and resilient elections organised by the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Aminata D. Gaye, a representative of the regional youth community, described the initiative as both “timely” and “impactful.”
“As we see, election is approaching, and when we talk about election, we must talk about democracy,” Gaye said. She noted that many participants initially lacked awareness of their rights and responsibilities, but through interactive discussions, they gained valuable insights into the electoral process from registration and campaigning to voting. She stressed the importance of maintaining peace before and after the polls, cautioning: “Gambia is very small, so if we cause chaos because of two people, we all lose.”
Gaye also pointed to encouraging progress in youth political participation. “Compared to before, young people are really going hard. We used to have zero youth in the whole council, but now we have five, six, seven youths representing. In some districts, three or four of them are young people,” she explained.
She added that the training has empowered young Gambians to take ownership of their political rights, affirming: “Nobody can represent you better than yourself. As youths, we are ready to participate fully in politics without causing chaos.”
Her message to hesitant youth was direct: “If you have a voter’s card, go and cast your vote. Your vote is your voice. If you don’t vote, you cannot hold anyone accountable.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Gibril Dem, Regional Chairperson for Activista CRR North Chapter, echoed similar sentiments, describing the NCCE’s youth engagement activities as “welcoming” and “timely.” He emphasised that young people represent a significant portion of the electorate and must be actively involved in the democratic process. “Preaching peace before and after elections are key things we are discussing, and if these messages are filtered down to the grassroots, they will help a lot,” he said.
Dem urged youths to avoid passivity and misinformation, particularly on social media. “We must be careful of what to post and what not to post. Misinformation can cause chaos, and young people should shy away from that,” he warned.
He also called on youths to reject hate speech, tribal bigotry, and religious intolerance, stressing: “We are all one. We might have different political affiliations, but at the end of the day, this is the country we all share.”
Concluding his remarks, Dem reminded young Gambians that their actions during the campaign and election period will shape the nation’s future. “Let us stay away from things that divide us and focus on building peace in our beautiful country, The Gambia,” he said.
