By: Fatou Krubally
A stirring open letter written from a sickbed is reigniting debate over generational leadership in The Gambia.
Fatou Janneh, a citizen, has issued a passionate response to Dr. Lamin Janneh’s letter urging veteran politician Halifa Sallah to step aside for younger voices. Her rebuttal, titled “As I See It: An Open Letter to Dr. Lamin Janneh,” challenges both the premise and tone of Dr. Janneh’s call.
“Who determines when one’s wisdom becomes obsolete? Who decides when service expires?” she asked, defending Sallah’s continued relevance in national discourse and urging a more inclusive approach to political transition.
Dr. Janneh’s letter had praised Sallah’s legacy but encouraged him to retreat from public life to allow a new generation to emerge. But Fatou Janneh questioned the assumption that age should signal the end of meaningful contribution. Instead, she argues, Sallah represents a model of principled, selfless leadership that remains vital in today’s political climate.
“He has never governed by decree or enriched himself through power,” she wrote. “In fact, he declined ministerial offers, donated his salary for constituency development, and refused perks others rushed to accept.”
Citing his historic stance against military rule in 1994, Janneh called on young intellectuals to embrace the guidance of elders rather than view them as political competition. She cautioned against turning generational transition into an “age war,” warning that the real crisis lies not in age, but in the erosion of integrity.
“Halifa Sallah is not an obstacle. He is an example,” she stated. “Let us honor our elders, not by sidelining them, but by learning from them.”