UN Special Coordinator for development in the Sahel lauds The Gambia’s ability to facilitate re-imagining governance in the Sahel

The Gambia can facilitate the “re-imagining” of governance in the Sahel region, according to UN Sahel Coordinator Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, who met with government officials on 15 and 16 February 2022. Mr. Dieye was in the country to discuss the possibility of the government of The Gambia hosting a high-level regional summit on governance in the Sahel region.

Mr. Dieye lauded The Gambia’s government for its achievements in democratic governance and social cohesiveness over the last five years. The UN Under-Secretary-General emphasized the importance of these achievements because at least five Sahel countries have seen unlawful changes in administration since 2020 and invited the country to host a high-level regional forum on governance in the Sahel.

The Gambia can facilitate the “re-imagining” of governance in the Sahel region, according to UN Sahel Coordinator Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, who met with government officials on 15 and 16 February 2022. Mr. Dieye was in the country to discuss the possibility of the government of The Gambia hosting a high-level regional summit on governance in the Sahel region.

Mr. Dieye lauded The Gambia’s government for its achievements in democratic governance and social cohesiveness over the last five years. The UN Under-Secretary-General emphasized the importance of these achievements because at least five Sahel countries have seen unlawful changes in administration since 2020 and invited the country to host a high-level regional forum on governance in the Sahel.

An urgent need to create space for all to proffer solutions to harness the Sahel’s development potential

The Sahel region is one of the most fragile regions in the world. The causes of this fragility are primarily man-made. Illustrating this, people from the ten Sahel nations that took part in the UN75 global dialogues listed climate change and environmental concerns as the leading causes of fragility in the Sahel. A further 44% cited armed conflict, political instability, terrorism, or organized crime as the main threat to the region’s sustainable development.

Despite its vulnerability, the region offers enormous potential. With the proper governing mechanisms in place, the Sahel may serve as a model for the rest of the world. For this to happen, however, the first step is to create a platform for all Sahelians to explore solutions to boost regional leadership and governance.

Creating a platform to strengthen inclusive governance is also consistent with the views delivered to Mr Mar Dieye last year during a series of consultations he held with youth in the Sahel dubbed “voices from the Sahel” in 2021.

For example, Bigambia Lebon of Cameroon stated, “The problems we are facing are global, but they need local solutions….” Similarly, Hawa Traore from Mali, Momodou Manneh from The Gambia and many other youths called for the creation of space for everybody to engage