Press Release from the Office of the National Youth Revolutionary Movement! (Part.2)

The executive of the movement wish to inform the general public as per the misconception against the revolution.

In Africa when you mention revolution, the first thing they think of is guns or war etc. No, No. A genuine revolutionary movement will stand for progress, positive change, advancement for the masses and development in addressing the needs and aspirations of the Gambian people.

The movement deem it necessary that The Gambia needs genuine revolutionary change and it is we the youth who should start from the bases a revolutionary youth movement to make the change happen.

Where are the Kwame Nkrumahs, Patrice Lumbuma’s, Amilcar Cabral’s, Steven Biko’s? They were all young Africans who fought for the injustice levied on them and their people. It is time we decolonise the African mind with a view of emancipating ourselves from mental slavery.

The aims and objective of the NYRM are:

To provide leadership education, training and experiences that help youth frame and develop their leadership philosophies and acquaint youth with issues, needs, resources and other factors that influence our countries’ future.

To inspire youth to become ambassadors of community leadership among their peers and strengthen the role of youth in identifying and speaking up against human rights violations, including discrimination, hate speech and those human rights violations affecting especially young people and children.

To create a strong and diverse base of future youth leaders for the country and to promote the presence and the role of youth as positive actors of change in peace-building processes.

To create better future and develop self-esteem in the youth and empower them with different knowledge and skills which will help them in all spheres of life and to promote unity and patriotism among the youth and instil the spirit of leadership.

To develop responsible youth who will be able to make right choices in their lives and to enhance the youth ambassador’s capacity to take action at a local level in environments affected by previous or ongoing conflict.

To develop awareness and competences (knowledge, skills and attitude) of participants in human rights education, conflict transformation, intercultural learning and dialogue, including a critical understanding of personal and collective identities and their role in conflicts.

“One of the great liabilities of history is that all too many people fail to remain awake through great periods of social change. Every society has its protectors of status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent who are notorious for sleeping through revolutions. Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.” ( Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Thank you.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Spokesperson

Gambia's Ambassador To Ethiopia Presents Credentials To AU Commission Chair

The Gambia's ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union (AU), Wednesday, November 8th, presented his letter of credence to the chairperson of the African Union Commission HE Moussa Fakki Mahamat.

Ambassador Sulayman Alieu Jack was accompanied by the Gambian community in Ethiopia to the seat of the continental body.

 

During a closed door meeting with the AU chief, Ambassador Jack promised that he will do his best to raise the AU flag higher high particularly in the areas of peace and security, AU Agenda 2063, (The Africa We Want). He extended President Adama Barrow and his government's highest regards to the AU chairperson and renewed Gambia's commitment towards realising the objectives of the continental body.

After presenting his credentials, Ambassador Jack held a meeting with the Gambian community in Ethiopia during which he assured them that his doors are upon for dialogue in areas of national development. He implored on the and tasked the Gambian community to be good ambassadors as they are representing the Gambia in their various field of expertise.

Ambassador Jack used the opportunity to thank President Barrow for the trust bestowed on him to head the embassy in Addis.

Almamy Kassama, the deputy ambassador, thanked the AU Chairperson for accepting the credentials of the incoming ambassador. He assured that he will work hand in hand with the new ambassador. 

For his part, Halifa Manneh the head of Gambian community assured that the Gambian community will work with the embassy, saying though the community is small in size, but they have big dreams to make The Gambia great.

By: Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Need for A National Youth Revolutionary Movement (Part.1)

There will be no democracy if a portion of the population is being denied their constitutional right to lead not only with words but with action. The removal of age limit show a clear testimony of constitutional coup and hijack that the youth are not important in national development.

Youth leadership opportunities are often overlooked by adults, either knowingly or unknowingly, but the results are the same; a lost opportunity for young people to take the lead. Even when adults consider themselves champions for youth in leadership roles, many times adults are asked to assume the leadership positions instead of letting youth take the lead to build their future.

The Gambia is the only country where Young people are often excluded or overlooked as political candidates, but see the youth as the people who supposed to be clapping and singing during the campaign. Not knowing that the youth often play central and catalyzing roles in movements for democracy around the globe in making the world a better place to live in.

Gambia politics is typically regarded as a space for politically experienced men above 60, and while women are also disadvantaged in accumulating experience to run for office, young people are systematically marginalized because of their young age, limited opportunities, and projected lack of experience by the pensioners who want to lead by all means.

Widespread global mobilization and action demonstrate that young people care deeply about social causes, while recent events in the Arab States and elsewhere have highlighted how youth can play a vital role in democratic change.

We the Gambia youth face many issues in our own country, but these issues go unheard. Since the youth would better understand other young people, the best way to improve this newer generation would be through politics, which is a tool used to take action for development.

The involvement of youth in politics leads to civic engagement which is broader than political engagement because it can include service to the community through involvement in health, education and charity work. Political engagement is a more targeted aspect of civic engagement and can be expressed through voting, participating in political demonstrations and signing petitions for specific issues.

The Barrow lead administration should consider steps to effectively integrate youth in political processes by taking advantage of new technologies. It is clear that we need to find another way forward. Politicians, decision-making institutions and influencers must engage in more open and transparent dialogue with young people that both elevates their voices and builds the trustworthiness of the institutions they engage with.

The Gambia Youth are well energetic in performing their tasks and would be key to the growth and development of the nation. They are also well aware of the technological advancement such as various app which makes work easier.

Youth should be given the opportunity to prove themselves by making politics accessible to them. The right balance of young talent and experienced politicians can lead to the cleaning of politics and can restore the public faith in the political system.

Our mission is supporting a new generation of progressive young leaders and empowering them to fight for progressive change, elevating the political consciousness. And to transform Gambia’s politics and economic systems in responsive to the needs of The Gambians.

The vision dedicated to liberate Gambians from the bondage of leading by the pensioners with the aim of re building a better Gambia that would one day be led by a youth not only with words but with action.

To be continued…

By: Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Spokesperson

Press Release from the Office of the National Youth Revolutionary Movement!

The office of the National Youth Revolutionary Movement comprises of Activists ranging from various areas of expertise and interest such as Politics, Education, Human right, Gender, Entrepreneurship, Peace, Feminism, Pan-Africanism and History, etc.

Our mission is supporting a new generation of progressive young leaders and empowering them to fight for progressive change, elevating the political consciousness. And to transform Gambia’s politics and economic systems in responsive to the needs of The Gambians.

Vision dedicated to liberate Gambians from the bondage of leading by the pensioners with the aim of re building a better Gambia that would one day be led by a youth not only with words but with action. 

The members consist of the youth all those home and abroad. We felt the necessity to bring together a youth group of the revolutionaries to participate in the revolution inside The Gambia to represent the revolution and to convey the true picture of The Gambia to Africa as per Agenda 2063. 

The Revolutionary Movement Office will coordinate with various revolutionaries to unite the voice of the youth and to develop ways that will make the youth to be represented well at the highest offices in The Gambia.

The movement is not affiliated to any political party in The Gambia. The executive is also drafting a constitution which will be shared to the general public for review, comments before validation.

Sincerely,

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Spokesperson

Re: #OccupyWestfield!

I stand with the Gambia youth who are demanding for the State to provide them with uninterrupted electricity and water supply. The above movement is democratic and constitutional as per the “right of freedom of speech and expression” and “right of academic freedom”, which are expressly guaranteed by section 25 (1) (A) and section 25(1) (B) respectively, of The Gambia’s 1997 Constitution.

The Gambia youth have the right to organize peaceful demonstration or to take part in meetings in a peaceful way as per the laws of the land. It is also the duty of the states not only have an obligation to protect peaceful protesters, but should also take measures to facilitate them too.

I believe that peaceful protest is the most effective way to make a change. When it comes down to it all the people who were the most known for protesting like Edward Francis Small, Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela. None of these leaders used violence. They used their words and knowledge and got their point across and changed the world.

Under international law, the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is not a crime as many narrow minded reason. The State should not limit this right for certain groups based on sex, tribe, religion, political affiliation, status or other opinion.

In a democratic State it is the duty of the State to provide basic needs such as water and electricity to her citizens. The President is not fair to us at all. His family is enjoying the 24hrs uninterrupted supply of electricity and water. Whiles us the voters our families are suffering beyond all human survival.

Peaceful protest is the most effective way to bring about change. Just look what Martin Luther King Jr did. He led protest in the south and he earned legislations respect. They were willing to hear what he had to say unlike Malcolm X, since the government considered him a criminal.

Such a thing is a sign of bad leadership at the peak, leadership is the ability to protect and provide your citizens with their basic needs. Availability of basic needs such as water and electricity are a violation of human right.

Electricity is very vital in our daily lives, the patients who are getting their treatment in different hospitals also face many difficulties as per NAWEC inability to supply electricity to the citizenry. The patients operations are not happening on time as the electricity is moving on and off like a rocket. This increases their diseases as the fans of the hospital are not moving which result to the patients feel great pain in their body.

The events of theft are increasing in the new Gambia. The thieves get chances of stealing in the darkness of night created because of the breakdown of electricity by NAWEC. So there is a kind of fear among people in The Gambia.

Many businesses are compelled stop their working for inadequate supply of electricity and water and, therefore suffer a great loss of business. Students suffer heavily and cannot study which might affect their performance as this irregularity in electric supply is causing obstacles in their daily preparation.

This year is extremely hot and the old people are facing difficulties to tackle the problem.  The problems of current electricity supply also lead to some other illegal activities to take place beyond all human imagination.

I challenge the Gambia youth to come out in their thousands with candles to light them up and occupy Westfield. The Gambia belongs to us The Gambians both those home and abroad. Our today’s action will have an impact in our future. Therefore let’s speak as in speaking we shall be heard.

By: Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Political Activist