The Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow, on Thursday, 31 July 2025, presided over the official closing of the first-ever Sahel Governance Forum held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference
Centre in Bijilo.
Organized under the theme “The Future of Governance: (Re)building Social Cohesion and Public Trust,”
the two-day high-level gathering convened a diverse group of participants including former Heads of
State, regional policymakers, civil society leaders, youth and women representatives, and development
partners from across the Sahel region.
In his closing remarks, Vice President Jallow emphasized The Gambia’s steadfast commitment to
inclusive and people-centered governance, as outlined in the nation’s transformative development
blueprint—the “YIRIWAA” Green Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (2023–2027).
“Let us leave not with speeches, but with commitments. Let us leave not with applause, but with
action,” he told delegates, calling for a renewed collective effort to rebuild trust, strengthen institutions,
and promote sustainable peace in the Sahel.
The forum served as a timely platform for frank dialogue and strategic reflection, addressing the
pressing governance challenges facing the region amid ongoing insecurity, economic hardship, and
declining public confidence in institutions.
Participants expressed hope that the outcomes of the forum would inspire actionable reforms and
foster deeper collaboration among Sahelian nations and their partners.
The landmark event was co-hosted by The Gambia in partnership with the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Foundation, the UN Special Coordinator for the Sahel, and International IDEA.
The successful hosting of the forum reinforces The Gambia’s emerging role as a convener of regional
dialogue and a champion for democratic governance in West Africa.