Africa-Press – Gambia. The National Youth Parliament (NYP), a non-partisan civil society organisation, has concluded what it describes as a historic election process, despite facing major funding hurdles that tested its capacity to deliver a smooth vote.
The week-long election, which wrapped up on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, brought together vetted youth leaders from across The Gambia’s constituencies to contest for seats in the youth parliament. Voting was conducted over three days, with results announced at a press conference at the NYP office on Westfield Highway.
Abdoulie O. Bah, Head of Administration at NYP and also the Clerk, described the elections as unprecedented in the organisation’s history. He said the process had tested their will, stretched their limited resources and ultimately renewed their faith in the ability of young Gambians to lead with integrity and commitment to national development.
“This is an election process that has challenged our resources and strengthened our system,” Bah said, highlighting that the exercise demonstrated the resilience and leadership potential of the country’s youth.
Chairperson of the Electoral Committee, Babucarr Nyang, echoed similar sentiments, saying the election marked a defining moment for youth-led democracy in The Gambia. He noted that the process was organised and run entirely by young people, with candidates and electoral staff drawn from all regions.
“It is both an honour and a responsibility to witness this milestone and be a custodian of one of the most inspiring democratic processes led entirely by the youth,” Nyang said.
Despite celebrating the successful outcome, NYP leaders raised concern over the lack of consistent funding, which they say continues to hamper the organisation’s operations. Nyang said NYP relies heavily on donor support to run its activities but accessing timely funds remains a challenge.
He revealed that the electoral team often had to use their own vehicles and resources to deploy representatives to constituencies nationwide. “We had to fuel our own vehicles to make this possible,” he said, commending his team for their sacrifice and commitment.
The NYP has called for stronger support from partners and stakeholders to help sustain its efforts to empower young people and deepen youth participation in national decision-making processes.
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