The inaugural Sahel Governance Forum opened this week in Banjul, The Gambia, bringing together a host of influential African leaders and stakeholders under the banner “Rebuilding Social Cohesion and Public Trust in the Region.”
The gathering, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, has drawn major regional and continental attention, with more than 200 political figures, policy experts, and civil society leaders attending.
Among the dignitaries present were Gambian President H.E. Adama Barrow, former Nigerian President H.E. Goodluck E. Jonathan, former interim President of Mali H.E. Dioncounda Traoré, and President of the ECOWAS Commission H.E. Omar Alieu Touray. The Forum is being co-organized by ECOWAS institutions, the United Nations Development Programme, the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA International).
Addressing the opening ceremony, President Barrow emphasized the significance of the forum in reshaping governance frameworks across the Sahel. “The Gambia is proud to host this important forum and to ensure that the benefits of lasting peace and inclusive growth are available to all Sahelians,” he said.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Omar Alieu Touray, delivered remarks on behalf of the regional body, underscoring the timely nature of the gathering.
“The Forum is taking place at a particularly crucial moment when the security and governance landscape of the Sahel is undergoing profound changes. “By many counts, this forum provides a unique opportunity to share perspectives, foster meaningful dialogue, and co-create solutions for advancing a renewed governance agenda that prioritizes social cohesion and public trust across the Sahel region, and beyond.”
H.E. Omar Alieu Touray
Shared Destiny Despite Political Divides
Touray also addressed the political complexity surrounding the participation of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—three Sahelian states that have officially withdrawn from ECOWAS. Notwithstanding their exit, Touray reiterated that ECOWAS continues to view the nations as part of the regional family.
“Even after their official departure, ECOWAS continues to consider these three countries as part of the community,” Touray stated. “There is strong evidence that the three countries share a similar sense of belonging to the West African community.”
He confirmed that, until a new framework is reached, both ECOWAS and the Sahelian states have agreed to uphold the benefits of regional integration achieved over the past 50 years. This includes the continued free movement of people and goods and cooperation on joint security concerns, particularly the battle against terrorism.
“It is in this context that we eagerly await the results of this forum, which I am confident will include innovative strategies to strengthen social cohesion and relations between citizens and the state, as well as to advance governance through stronger democratic institutions that will promote accountability, discipline and the achievement of results.”
H.E. Omar Alieu Touray
The Sahel Governance Forum aims to create a high-level, multi-stakeholder platform to promote a holistic governance model tailored to the region’s specific challenges and opportunities. By facilitating meaningful dialogue among key actors—governments, civil society, youth, women’s groups, and international partners—the forum aspires to be a catalyst for public policy innovation, experience-sharing, and collective monitoring of reform commitments.
The event provides space not only for top-down strategies but also for community-based solutions and localized ownership of governance reforms. In doing so, organizers hope to foster mutual trust between states and citizens and build resilient institutions capable of responding to current and future challenges.
As the Sahel continues to confront insecurity, political instability, and economic inequality, the Forum represents a timely attempt to redefine how leadership and public accountability can take root in one of the world’s most volatile yet promising regions.
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