Below is the official statement of The Honorable Minister, His Excellency Mr. Sering Modou Njie, at the 7th AU–EU Summit Round Table on “Peace, Security and Governance,” held on 24th November 2025 in Luanda, Angola
- Your Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union
- Your Excellences Heads of States & Governments,
- Excellency Mr. António Costa, President of the European Council
- Excellency Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission
- Excellency Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
- Co-chairs
- Heads of delegation Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of His Excellency President Adama Barrow and the People of the Republic of The Gambia, I wish to express our profound gratitude to His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, as well as to the Government and the brotherly People of Angola, for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements accorded to my delegation since our arrival in this beautiful city of Luanda.
It is an honour for The Gambia to participate in this important AU–EU Summit. We commend the African Union and the European Union for convening us under the timely and urgent theme: Peace, Security and Governance. We also thank the co-chairs and panelists for their valuable insights.
Excellencies,
Our two continents continue to face complex and interconnected challenges rising conflict dynamics, governance stresses, climate shocks, and socio-economic pressures that particularly affect our youth. These realities require an integrated approach that recognizes the inseparable link between peace, security, and good governance.
For The Gambia, this theme reflects our own national journey of the past eight years a journey of democratic consolidation, institutional rebuilding, and renewed public confidence. As a country that has undergone a democratic transition, we appreciate the delicate nature of reforms and the partnerships required to sustain them.
We continue to prioritize:
- Deepening democratic reforms and institutional strengthening;
- Advancing transitional justice and national reconciliation;
- Accelerating security sector reform;
- Enhancing border management and early warning systems;
- And investing in youth empowerment and resilience.
We remain grateful for the continued support of the European Union and other partners whose cooperation has significantly contributed to our stability and progress.
This Summit offers an opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to peace. The recent steps toward sustainable financing for AU-led peace support operations, including through UN mechanisms, are encouraging. We urge continued AU–EU collaboration to ensure predictable support for African- owned peace initiatives.
The situation in the Sahel remains a shared concern. Stability in this region is vital for The Gambia. We encourage constructive engagement, inclusive dialogue, and collective approaches that help restore trust and reinforce regional mechanisms.
Excellencies,
Security responses must go hand in hand with socio-economic investments. We see great value in AU–EU cooperation on youth employment, climate adaptation, local governance strengthening, and support for women’s leadership in peacebuilding. Migration, too, must be addressed cooperatively, with dignity and shared responsibility.
As a committed member of ECOWAS and the African Union, The Gambia will continue to support multilateralism, preventive diplomacy, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Our foreign policy remains anchored in constructive engagement and respect for international law.
Africa’s peace and stability are global public goods. Our destinies are interlinked, and our partnership must remain rooted in mutual respect and shared ambition.
- Let us leave Luanda with renewed commitment to
- Uphold democratic governance,
- strengthened peace and security mechanisms,
- youth empowerment,
- Build climate-resilience, and inclusive societies
- Pursue dialogue over division and
- Strengthened the bridges across our two continents
The Gambia stands ready to contribute, ready to listen, and ready to work with all partners within ECOWAS, across Africa, and with the European Union, to build a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous future for our peoples.
I thank you.
