Youth-Led Accountability protest Hijacked by Political Opportunists

By Alagi Yorro Jallow

The Opposition’s Political Calculations and Reclaiming the Mn ovement: No Place for Political Exploitation. Alagi Yorro Jallow Fatoumatta: In every political crisis, survival instincts take over. When youth activists took to the streets to demand full disclosure of Yahya Jammeh’s confiscated assets, sold under questionable circumstances, they ignited a movement built on transparency, justice, and accountability. But in the shadows of their courage, opportunistic politicians and diaspora figures are now hijacking their struggle for political mileage. Instead of standing beside these brave activists, certain figures have turned the protests into photo-ops for their personal branding. Some have rushed to detention centers, capturing selfies with arrested youth, while others have hosted press conferences in luxury hotels, masquerading as architects of the movement. These attempts to steal credit from genuine grassroots activism dilute the integrity of the fight and distort the core purpose of the protests.

Fatoumatta: Beyond the superficial political showboating, a deeper, more troubling trend is emerging: strategic undermining of the youth protests.The swift release of detained protesters—without securing tangible commitments from the government—represents a lost opportunity to force genuine engagement. Instead of securing direct assurances, activists were allowed to disperse without concessions, weakening the leverage they built through civil disobedience. This moment should have been used to demand a full-scale investigation into the undervalued sale of properties and expose the network of insiders who benefited from Jammeh’s confiscated assets.

A more assertive approach is needed—one that ensures a thorough reassessment of all seized properties, leveraging the damning revelations of former Janneh Commission Secretary Alhaji Mamadi Kurang and investigative journalist Mustapha K. Darboe. Their findings, along with scrutiny of former Attorney General Baa Tambadou’s role in these transactions, must become central to the youth’s demands for full accountability. Fatoumatta: Meanwhile, opposition figures are attempting to capitalize on the unrest, not by amplifying the youth’s cause, but by distorting it to fit their own agendas. Instead of legitimately supporting the movement, they have co-opted the protests through self-serving press releases and staged conferences, falsely positioning themselves as the architects of the revelations regarding Jammeh’s asset sales.

However, the government’s sudden compliance in releasing the full asset list suggests it is responding out of pressure, not principle. This reaction—borne out of political survival instincts—signals a potential consolidation of power, rather than genuine accountability. Fatoumatta: This moment is too critical to be ceded to opportunists. The youth, alongside the Gambia Youth Leadership Association (GALA), must recognize that politicians—whether domestic or in the diaspora—do not truly represent their interests at the political table. The National Youth Council must seize this moment, ensuring that demands for transparency extend beyond protest rhetoric and into structured action. By joining the Task Force, young activists can transform symbolic resistance into policy influence, preventing both government manipulation and political co-optation of their movement. The message to all self-serving opportunists is clear: this fight belongs to the youth. It is not for political theatrics, not for career-building, not for clout-chasing. It is about justice, integrity, and the right of the people to demand truth without interference.

Fatoumatta: Enough is enough. The youth must remain in control of their struggle, keeping political opportunists at bay and ensuring this fight remains focused on lasting change—not fleeting self-promotion.