Barrow calls for regional solidarity to address Sahel’s governance challenges
President Adama Barrow has called for regional solidarity to address the Sahel’s governance challenges and build a future grounded in justice, trust and opportunity for all.
“The Sahel is a region of immense promise,” he said at a 2-day inaugural Sahel Governance Forum hosted by The Gambia in collaboration with the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), the Office of the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel (OSCDS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It was held under the theme: ‘The Future of Governance (Rebuilding Social Cohesion and Public Trust).
“It is vastly rich in human and natural resources, favourably blessed with a unique cultural heritage, and endowed with a huge strategic potential to spur economic boom,” the President said
The two-day high-level forum marks a pivotal moment in efforts to rebuild democratic governance, social cohesion, and public trust across the fragile Sahel region.
Launched by President Adama Barrow, the forum convened an impressive gathering of former presidents and vice presidents, regional and international diplomats, senior government officials, civil society leaders, academics, private sector representatives, and youth advocates from across Africa and beyond. Their shared goal: to address the escalating challenges of insecurity, political instability, and poor governance in one of the continent’s most volatile regions.
The SGF is a collaborative initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Government of The Gambia, the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, and International IDEA. It provides an inclusive and context-driven platform for open dialogue, knowledge exchange, and co-creation of sustainable governance solutions tailored to the Sahel’s unique challenges.
In his keynote address, President Barrow acknowledged both the region’s challenges and its opportunities. “The Sahel is a region of immense promise,” he said. “But over the years, this potential has been overshadowed by insecurity, political instability, and slow development.” He urged leaders and participants to move beyond lamenting failures and to instead focus on bold, home-grown solutions anchored in inclusivity and long-term peace.
Barrow also highlighted The Gambia’s own democratic gains, including its progress in implementing the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). Of the 265 recommendations in the TRRC White Paper, the government accepted 263 and is steadily implementing them as part of a broader commitment to justice and national healing.
He further cited the YIRIWAA National Development Plan (2023–2027), a green recovery-focused strategy that places governance and peacebuilding at the center of inclusive growth and resilience.
UNDP Africa Director Ahunna Eziakonwa challenged the security-heavy approach dominating Sahelian policy responses. “We continue to deploy more soldiers but fewer teachers,” she said. “The Sahel is not a security problem; it is a governance challenge and more importantly, a political opportunity to rethink how we lead, how we listen, and how we rebuild trust between citizens and institutions.”
She cited startling statistics: in some Sahel countries, over 60% of national budgets go to peace and security, while sectors like education and healthcare remain underfunded. Illicit financial flows and corruption drain up to $148 billion annually from African economies; resources that could otherwise support development.
In his remarks, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan emphasised the need for actionable outcomes. “Whenever I attend such gatherings, I always ask what do we walk away with?” he said.
He reflected on why global attention is increasingly focused on the Sahel. “What makes this region attract the World Bank and the United Nations? It’s the crises terrorism, banditry, and instability,” he declared. Jonathan drew historical parallels between the Sahel and Somalia, both regions marked by drylands and fragile ecosystems. He warned that environmental degradation, as seen in the collapse of empires from Rome to France and Germany, can spell long-term disaster if unaddressed.
“The key to peace and stability in the Sahel lies in enabling farmers to grow crops at least two to three times a year,” he emphasised. “If we want peace, we must first build prosperity.”
ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray also addressed the gathering, offering a sharp take on what governance truly means. “It is not just about elections,” he said. “It is about accountability, discipline, and delivering results. Without these, we will continue to sit on gold mines while our people wallow in poverty.”
Touray also touched on the regional political rifts, including the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, but insisted that dialogue and unity remain essential. “Despite their formal departure, ECOWAS continues to consider them part of the community,” he said.
One of the major highlights of the Forum was the launch of the inaugural “Future of Governance in the Sahel” report – an outcome of a year-long process of consultations, research, and peer review. The nine-chapter report presents concrete recommendations on justice reform, digital governance, regional cooperation, economic systems, social cohesion, and combating impunity.
Source: The Point
