By Fatou Krubally
Gambian President, Adama Barrow has called for strengthened regional cooperation and a unified approach to address escalating security challenges in the Sahel and West Africa.
He was quick to add that instability in the region continued to pose risks to neighbouring coastal states.
President Barrow’s message was delivered on his behalf by the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, at a high-level workshop on strengthening security and stabilisation in the Sahel and West Africa, held in Banjul on Wednesday.
According to the statement, President Barrow said the security challenges facing the region require collective action based on dialogue, inclusion and shared responsibility.
He noted that the spillover effects of insecurity from the Sahel are already impacting livelihoods and undermining development gains in coastal countries.
The Gambian leader states that military responses alone are insufficient to address the crisis, adding that a comprehensive approach integrating governance, justice and development is necessary.
He further stressed the importance of human security, highlighting investments in education, employment, climate adaptation and institutional reform as key pillars for long-term stability.
Reaffirming The Gambia’s support for African-led solutions, President Barrow underscored the need to strengthen regional frameworks such as the African Union’s MISAHEL, describing it as essential for coordination and stabilisation efforts.
He also referenced The Gambia’s democratic transition since 2017, citing on-going reforms in transitional justice and security sector governance as part of the country’s peace-building process.
President Barrow called for renewed urgency and commitment from all partners to ensure that the workshop’s outcomes were translated into concrete actions aimed at promoting peace and stability in West Africa.
