By Ebrima Cham
Research has shown an increased number of youths in Africa developing an interest in political engagement. The survey conducted by Afrobarometer between 2021 and 2023 showed that 72% of youths turned up and voted in their countries’ past elections. Sixty-two percent of youths also showed an interest in having conversations around politics. Gone are the days when youths occupied the back seat to serve as supporters for political parties in Africa. Recent political events that took place in different African countries, like Senegal, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, and Uganda, have shown a paradigm shift in youth political engagement.
In 2023, a number of youths stormed the streets of Senegal to demand change and the release of the current Prime Minister of Senegal, Mr. Ousmane Sonko. The movement of the youths and their political engagement brought a new dispensation under the leadership of President Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko of the Patriotic Movement of Senegal for Work, Ethics, and Fraternity (PASTEF). This movement was supported by a good number of youths who showed interest in changing their government.
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At 36, Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the world’s youngest president, has introduced many developments in Burkina Faso. Captain Ibrahim Traoré has embarked on radical reforms that resonate with many Burkinabè. These include reversing his predecessor’s salary increase for government officials while he remains on his military captain earnings. Many young people celebrated this new dispensation and showed their full support for his government.
After the fall of the dictator, former president Yahya Jammeh, many young people in The Gambia pushed themselves into politics and called for democracy. Young people in The Gambia constitute about 60% of the population, forming the largest percentage of voters who ousted former president Jammeh in 2016. In 2017, a civil society movement campaign – Not Too Young To Run – was initiated to encourage many young people to contest for parliamentary and local government elections in 2018.
During these elections, many young people were elected into office as councilors and mayors. Notably among these young people is the current Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensuda of the Kanifing Municipal Council of The Gambia. Other young people were elected as councilors and parliamentarians. All these young people are representatives of political parties, while others stood as independent candidates. The steps taken by these young people have served as a catalyst for others to develop an interest in politics.
The recently concluded National Youth Parliament of The Gambia has shown the increase in youth engagement in politics. This election, being the first-ever National Youth Parliament elections, saw thousands of youths participate in an inclusive and transparent process to elect youth representatives. The success of the 2025 NYP elections underscores Gambia’s growing commitment to inclusive, youth-driven governance, setting a precedent for democratic participation across the region. As these young leaders take their seats, the nation watches with anticipation, eager to see the impact of this historic milestone.
There was a time when young people were used as a catalyst to increase the fan base of political parties, but when the time arose to select leaders and flag bearers of political parties, they always took the back seat and allowed older people to lead. This had always been the case because of the belief that young people could not lead — that they were not responsible, not educated enough, did not understand politics, and easily became angry. These beliefs are changing because now young people are aware of their rights and know a lot about politics and leadership.
In Uganda, we have seen the young artist Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known by his stage name Bobi Wine — a Ugandan activist, politician, singer, lawyer, and actor. He is a former Member of Parliament for Kyadondo County East constituency in Wakiso District, in Uganda’s Central Region. He also leads the National Unity Platform political party. In June 2019, he announced his candidacy for the 2021 Ugandan presidential election. He participated in the 2021 election, in which, according to official results, he lost to incumbent Yoweri Museveni, although he claimed the result was fraudulent. Despite facing arrest and other challenges in politics, he has remained steadfast and continues to mobilize many young people in Uganda.
In this new face of African political engagement, we have seen many young people forming movements and coming up with initiatives to take the lead in political engagement. Young people have started forming their own political parties and contesting in presidential, parliamentary, and local government elections. In The Gambia, all political parties have a youth component in their party structures, and these committees are led by young people themselves. Political engagement often starts at the university level, where different camps similar to political parties are formed. Many of these young people who contest in university elections often go on to contest for the National Youth Parliament and even their country’s national parliamentary elections.
For Africa to rise again, youths need to be trained in good governance and democracy to change the political landscape of the continent. Youths must no longer take the back seat when it comes to politics; they should take the lead and bring change to their countries. They must not be used as tools to empower the older generations to keep leading them. The youths should come together to clean up politics in Africa. There should no longer be politics of deception and self-empowerment. Politics should be about addressing the challenges faced by the masses and empowering them. Young people are now calling for good governance, democracy, youth engagement, and inclusive politics. African leaders should listen to their call and work towards it. The new face of African political engagement should be one that advocates for youth involvement in politics and serves as a catalyst for change.
