By: Kemo Kanyi
Amadou Jaiteh, leader of the opposition movement PROGRESS has argued that The Gambia is unlikely to get the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under President Adama Barrow, citing what he described as the country’s limited regional diplomatic influence.
Jaiteh’s comments followed the appointment of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye as Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, succeeding Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio.
In a statement, Jaiteh said leadership within ECOWAS, the African Union (AU) and other multilateral organizations is earned through sustained vision, competence, diplomatic influence and the confidence of member states, rather than by circumstance.
He argues that countries that assume leadership roles in regional bodies do so because they demonstrate the capacity to address regional challenges, build consensus and project a coherent national vision.
According to Jaiteh, although The Gambia regain international goodwill following its 2017 democratic transition, goodwill alone is insufficient to secure regional leadership.
He says sustained influence requires effective governance, strong institutions and a clear foreign policy agenda capable of commanding respect beyond the country’s borders.
“Leadership requires confidence, not merely personal confidence, but institutional confidence,” Jaiteh said, adding that regional partners must have confidence in a country’s ability to lead negotiations, mediate disputes, propose solutions and implement agreed commitments.
He maintains that such confidence is built through consistency, strategic planning and measurable achievements.
Jaiteh also cited The Gambia’s chairmanship of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as an example, acknowledging that hosting the OIC Summit was a significant diplomatic achievement but arguing that leading an international organisation required more than organizing a summit.
He says an effective chairmanship demands sustained diplomatic engagement, agenda-setting, coalition-building and efforts to advance the organization’s objectives.
The PROGRESS leader questioned what major diplomatic initiatives The Gambia had undertaken since assuming the OIC chairmanship, including efforts to promote conflict resolution, humanitarian cooperation and dialogue among member states.
He said these were legitimate questions that required substantive answers.