Middle East Directorate

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.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟏𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: The Republic of The Gambia is actively engaging in the third Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Programme of Action (POA) 2026 to 2035, which commenced today at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and is expected to last until 20th November 2025. Ms. Fatou Kinneh Jobe, Permanent Secretary II of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, led the Gambian delegation, alongside other senior government officials. In her remarks, PS Jobe commended the OIC General Secretariat and Member States for developing an ambitious and comprehensive plan for the next 10 years. “The Draft Programme of Action embodies our collective hopes for peace, justice, prosperity, and solidarity throughout the Muslim Ummah,” stated PS Jobe. “It covers key issues including Palestine, peace and security, efforts to combat Islamophobia, human rights, socio-economic development, and institutional reform.” The Permanent Secretary also welcomed the POA’s focus on poverty reduction, trade, health, education, youth and women’s empowerment, and climate resilience, noting that these are crucial for a stable and prosperous Ummah. To enhance the impact and ensure the successful implementation of the POA, The Gambia proposed key recommendations: establishing transparent implementation mechanisms, strengthening support for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and improving coordination among OIC institutions. The meeting brought together experts and senior officials from OIC Member States to finalise the draft Programme of Action, which is expected to guide the OIC development agenda for the period 2026 to 2035.

📍𝐃𝐨𝐡𝐚, 𝐐𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫 | 𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 The Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, H.E. Sering Modou Njie, delivered The Gambia’s national statement at the Second World Summit for Social Development held in Doha, Qatar, from 4th to 6th November 2025. Speaking on behalf of His Excellency President Adama Barrow and the people of The Gambia, Minister Njie expressed heartfelt appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, and to the Government and people of Qatar for their warm hospitality and excellent arrangements. In his statement, the Hon. Minister highlighted the urgent need for renewed multilateral cooperation amid global uncertainties marked by conflicts, climate crises, and widening inequalities. He emphasized that strengthening global solidarity and shared responsibility is essential to address poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion. “We must forge a new global consensus that unites us behind inclusive and sustainable development one rooted in equity, accountability, and shared prosperity,” Minister Njie stated. The Minister reaffirmed The Gambia’s dedication to social development, democratic governance, and inclusive economic growth, with a focus on empowering women and youth, eradicating poverty, and promoting enduring peace. He also welcomed the Doha Political Declaration and the Sevilla Commitment on Financing for Development, calling for reforms to the global financial architecture, increased climate financing, and meaningful debt relief to help Least Developed Countries (LDCs) achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. #𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 🇶🇦🇬🇲

📍𝐃𝐨𝐡𝐚, 𝐐𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫 | 𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 On the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, H.E. Sering Modou Njie, delivered a statement during a Roundtable Discussion on Strengthening the Pillars of Social Development: Poverty Eradication, Full and Productive Employment and Decent Work for All, and Social Inclusion. In his address, Minister Njie underscored the urgent need for collective global action to tackle poverty, unemployment, and inequality, which continue to impede sustainable socio-economic progress worldwide. He highlighted The Gambia’s commitment to integrated and inclusive policy solutions anchored in equality, social justice, and solidarity emphasizing the importance of decent work, particularly for youth and women, as well as resilience-building and inclusive growth. FM Njie further called for a comprehensive review of the international financial architecture, the adoption of a fair and universal tax convention, and renewed efforts to expand open market access, enhance production capacity, and mitigate the impact of climate change. “Our progress as a global community will remain incomplete unless we address these injustices at their roots,” he stated. “Let us keep the momentum, honor our promises, and work collectively to build a world where dignity, equity, and opportunity are a reality for all.” The Minister reaffirmed The Gambia’s unwavering dedication to multilateral cooperation, in line with the Copenhagen and Doha Declarations, to ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. #SocialSummit2025 🇶🇦🇬🇲