By Mariatou Ngum & Abdou Mbye
Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow, head of the Gambian delegation, delivered a statement on behalf of President Adama Barrow during the General Debate at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, held in Luanda, Angola.
Addressing the gathering, which included AU Chairperson and President of Burundi H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of Angola H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, and AU Commission Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, VP Jallow conveyed the warm and fraternal greetings of President Barrow to the assembled Heads of State and Government.
The Vice President commended the AU Commission Chairperson for his commitment to consolidating peace and security on the continent and strengthening mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution. He recalled the commitments made at a similar gathering in New York the previous year, noting that Africa had since been called upon to act with greater urgency and unity in addressing crises before they deepen and spread.
VP Jallow commended the convening of the Extraordinary Summit in Luanda as a platform for building shared African narratives around a Culture of Peace, and paid tribute to President João Lourenço of Angola for his leadership in advancing peaceful solutions to conflicts affecting the continent, particularly his efforts in preventive diplomacy, early warning, mediation and conflict resolution.
Speaking on the continental security situation, the Vice President noted that the Sahel remains particularly vulnerable, while crises and instability elsewhere on the continent continue to cause immense human suffering. He called for the “Silencing the Guns” initiative and other efforts toward sustainable peace to be matched by the active participation of all AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities.
The Gambian Delegation urged Member States and Regional Mechanisms to provide sustained leadership in advancing peace, security and stability across Africa, while calling for a shift from crisis management toward a coordinated, comprehensive response that embeds peacebuilding at every stage of the peace and development continuum. VP Jallow emphasised that this must be backed by adequate and predictable financing for peacebuilding, alongside the full and meaningful participation of women and youth in peace processes.
Reaffirming The Gambia’s commitment to the cause, the Vice President stated that ensuring the incentives for peace outweigh those for conflict would position African nations as “the architects of the Africa We Want” and standard-bearers of peace and development for future generations.
VP Jallow attended the Summit representing President Barrow, as part of continued Gambian engagement in continental efforts toward conflict prevention and resolution.