Former President Jawara Eulogized At Second Pan-African Lecture
By Haddy Touray
The Kairaba Conservation and Leadership Organisation (KairaCLO) on Saturday hosted the second edition of the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Pan-African Lecture, drawing senior government officials, diplomats, academics, students, and civil society leaders to honor The Gambia’s first president.
Held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, the event highlighted Jawara’s contributions to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and environmental conservation, while showcasing ongoing initiatives to preserve his vision for The Gambia and Africa.
Mbemba Tambadou, representing KairaCLO, opened the proceedings, noting the strong turnout as a reflection of growing public interest in the lecture series. He acknowledged the presence of the Chief Justice of The Gambia, representatives from the Chinese Embassy, former vice presidents, ex-ministers, senior judges, academics, and students.
Tambadou recalled that in November 2022, the ECOWAS Commission recognized Sir Dawda Jawara as one of West Africa’s most consequential leaders and a champion of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. During his tenure as ECOWAS chairman from 1989 to 1992, Jawara’s diplomacy helped avert major humanitarian crises in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
He explained that KairaCLO, also known as Kaira GLOBE, was established in November 2022 as a company limited by guarantee. Its mission includes advancing the conservation goals of the 1977 Banjul Declaration, raising environmental awareness among schoolchildren, supporting grassroots climate action, advocating for climate justice, and promoting gender-inclusive climate policies.
Tambadou described Jawara as a conservationist guided by humility and stewardship, rooted in the Mandinka concept of ‘tesito.’ He highlighted the centenary commemorations of Jawara’s birth in May 2024, which included reprinting the Banjul Declaration, public discussions on the circular economy, the Mothers of the Nation Tree-Growing Project, Climate Action Week, and the establishment of the Jawara African Centre for Climate Justice at the University of The Gambia.
The Pan-African Lecture Series, organized in partnership with the University of The Gambia, aims to safeguard Jawara’s legacy of leadership. Last year’s inaugural lecture was delivered by Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, focusing on Jawara’s diplomatic achievements.
Emmanuel Daniel Joof, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), hailed the series as a fitting tribute to one of Africa’s finest politicians. He noted Jawara’s lifelong commitment to peace, democracy, human dignity, and human rights across the continent.
In recognition of this legacy, the NHRC partnered with the University of The Gambia in 2019 to launch the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Human Rights Moot Court Competition, training young legal minds in constitutional and human rights law. Since 2023, the competition has expanded continent-wide, with recent winners from Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya.
Joof also highlighted Jawara’s pivotal role in adopting the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights—also known as the Banjul Charter—and The Gambia’s continued hosting of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Former Vice President Alhaji Bakary B. Dabo described Jawara as a leader of integrity, humility, and genuine humanism, recounting his personal experiences of Jawara’s principled defense of human rights.
Sir Dawda Jawara Jr., the former president’s son, shared personal reflections on growing up under a father who demanded merit, discipline, and fairness, even within government service.
Almameh Fandi Taal, Chairperson of the KairaCLO Lecture Committee, contextualized Jawara’s legacy within Africa’s broader history and called for stronger institutions to promote self-reliance, unity, and transformation as The Gambia approaches its 60th independence anniversary.
The keynote address was delivered by Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow, who served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice under Jawara from 1984 to 1994. Jallow described the lecture series as a lasting tribute to a leader whose contributions to good governance, rule of law, human rights, and democracy remain profoundly relevant.
Drawing on personal experience, Jallow credited Jawara with building national confidence, stability, and democratic institutions in what was once deemed an “improbable nation.” He emphasized that Jawara’s most enduring achievements were institutional, embedding respect for the rule of law, human rights, and peaceful governance into The Gambia’s identity.
The event reinforced Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara’s multifaceted legacy as a statesman, conservationist, and Pan-Africanist, inspiring continued efforts to advance his ideals in The Gambia and beyond.
