Keypoints:
- Youth campaign launched ahead of 2026 presidential election
- Civic group promotes non-partisan voter participation
- Initiative builds on post-TRRC democratic reforms
THE Never Again Network has launched a nationwide civic engagement initiative aimed at increasing youth participation in The Gambia’s electoral process ahead of the December 2026 presidential elections.
The campaign, titled ‘Your Vote, Your Power’, was unveiled during an interactive session with students at the former Management Development Institute campus — now the Civil Service University — in Kanifing last week.
Why the campaign matters
The initiative comes as civil society organisations intensify efforts to strengthen democratic participation nearly a decade after The Gambia’s political transition. With young people representing a large share of the electorate, organisers say youth engagement will be decisive in shaping both turnout and the credibility of the upcoming vote.
The Never Again Network hopes the campaign will encourage eligible citizens to obtain voter cards early and take an active role in determining the country’s political future.
Call for civic responsibility
Speaking at the launch, National Coordinator Baba Galleh Jallow linked historically low electoral participation to governance challenges experienced during the rule of former President Yahya Jammeh.
He stressed that the initiative is strictly non-partisan and does not promote any political party or candidate.
‘This campaign is about empowering citizens to understand that their participation matters,’ Jallow said. ‘Your vote is your power. Go out there and exercise it.’
He urged young Gambians — many facing economic and social pressures — to channel frustration into constructive civic engagement through voter registration and participation in democratic processes.
Youth dialogue and cultural engagement
The event featured lively exchanges on transitional justice, youth empowerment and political participation, reflecting ongoing national conversations about accountability following the work of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC).
Gambian musician Awa Bling performed a rendition of her transitional justice song, Never Again, reinforcing themes of remembrance and democratic responsibility through music.
Also present was the Network’s National Outreach Coordinator, Bubacarr Sambou, a former coordinator of the TRRC’s Youth and Children’s Network Unit, who emphasised the importance of youth participation in national development and democratic consolidation.
Building on transitional justice legacy
‘Your Vote, Your Power’ marks the Never Again Network’s second major outreach initiative since its founding in late 2022 by former TRRC staff members, including Jallow, who previously served as the commission’s Executive Secretary.
Its earlier campaign, ‘The Right to Know’, focused on educating citizens — particularly schoolchildren — about civic rights, responsibilities and government accountability.
Organisers say these programmes aim to embed democratic values and prevent a recurrence of political impunity in the post-TRRC era.
Nationwide outreach planned
The Network plans to roll out engagements with youth groups, civil society organisations, media institutions and community stakeholders across the country in the coming months.
Activities will focus on voter registration awareness, civic education and informed participation ahead of the December elections.
The Never Again Network’s broader mandate is to support The Gambia’s transitional justice process while helping safeguard against future human rights violations. By encouraging civic participation at grassroots level, organisers argue, democratic accountability can be strengthened ahead of a pivotal national vote.
