By Maimuna Sey-Jawo
The West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP), The Gambia Tuesday completed a two-day technical meeting whereby twenty-five (25) youths gathered together to review and contextualize a code of conduct for youths ahead of the December presidential election.
The technical meeting held in Kololi was organised by WANEP in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the meeting also served as a meaningful platform to enlighten the youths to participate in the electoral process.
In her welcoming message Salaman Njie, Country Coordinator for WANEP Gambia said politically motivated violence has been a recurring future of elections in The Gambia. So far, the 2021 election is seemingly following a similar path.
The centre of these challenges is its significant youth population with 60% of the population under the age of 25 years with youth unemployment at 38%. “This has increased their vulnerability to political exploitation and election related violence in an already fragmented society with growing ethnic divisions and political party disputes,’ she stated.
She explained that this year’s election is also considered as a key test of the unfolding agenda of reforming every sector of the country, not least of which the security sector, the judiciary and transitional justice mechanisms, the economy and enhancing inclusive participation of women and youth in governance processes.
“The outcomes of the reform agenda would set the momentum for future democratic processes. In approaching the election, there are controversies around the revised Constitution and other reforms processes, deepening ethnic and political divides,” she said.
“Even within political parties, young people feel compelled to subdue themselves to financially affluent leaders in order to find ways to succeed,’’ she disclosed.
Njie added that despite these instability generating forces, actors from all sectors and regions have been working for peace and stability. She said it is imperative to develop and facilitate engagement platforms and strategies that enhance the peace building commitment of youths towards peaceful elections and political transitions in The Gambia.
The deputy permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youths and Sport in his opening said Code of Conduct for Youth Leaders, Media Practitioners and Peace Messages for the 2021 General Elections of The Gambia is indeed apt, considering the fact that the country is nearing what is being considered to be a highly contested general election.
Mbye said it is much needed for the key actors such as youth leaders and media, especially to be engaged and empowered so that comprehensive guiding principles can be developed and thus guide their actions. He said increasing youth participation across the board in governance and peace building is sine qua non in achieving holistic development.
According to him, initiatives like this will ensure inclusive peace building and conflict prevention mechanisms, as the engagement is not only important but very appropriate at this point in The Gambia’s history.
The best way as a country, he said, is to remain peaceful during and after the election and “set ourselves” on the path to meaningful development.
