The Honorable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, on behalf of His Excellency President Adama Barrow, delivered His Excellency’s opening remarks at a high-level workshop on strengthening security and stabilization in the Sahel and West Africa, held in Banjul on 23 April 2026.
The workshop brought together representatives of ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations, and other international partners to discuss ways of bridging good governance, regional cooperation, and multilateral responses to rising insecurity in the region.
In the statement, His Excellency President Barrow emphasized that the challenges facing West Africa and the Sahel require collective action rooted in dialogue, inclusion, and shared responsibility. He noted that instability in the Sahel continues to spill over into coastal states, affecting livelihoods and undermining development gains.
He stated that security cannot be achieved through military means alone, calling instead for a comprehensive approach that links governance, justice, and development. His Excellency also highlighted the importance of investing in human security, particularly education, employment, climate adaptation, and institutional reform.
Reaffirming The Gambia’s support for African-led solutions, the statement underscored the need to strengthen regional mechanisms such as the African Union’s MISAHEL, positioning it as a key platform for coordination and stabilization efforts.
His Excellency President Barrow further shared The Gambia’s own democratic experience since 2017, noting ongoing reforms in transitional justice and security sector governance as examples of home-grown efforts toward peacebuilding.
The statement concluded with a call for urgency and renewed commitment from all partners to ensure that recommendations from the workshop translate into concrete action for a more peaceful and stable West Africa.
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