Dakar, 04 May 2024 - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão concluded today a three-day visit to The Gambia.

The objective of the visit was to represent the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, at the 15th annual Islamic Summit Conference, and to renew United Nations’s support to the authorities of The Gambia in their efforts towards the consolidation of democratic gains.

Speaking on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General at the 15th annual Islamic Summit Conference, convened by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on "Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development," the Special Representative commended the collaboration between the OIC and the United Nations in support of development, peace and tolerance. He emphasized that building peace requires countering terrorism and violent extremism, safeguarding human rights, and stamping out hatred and discrimination. Specifically, he urged to address the triple challenge of security, development, and climate change, in the Sahel, in a context of unconstitutional changes of government. Moreover, he called for a reform of the global financial architecture and expressed hope that the Summit of the Future in New York in September 2024 would allow the world to come together to deliver a better, more equal, and peaceful future for all.

At the Summit, the Special Representative met with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People chaired by the Permanent Representative of Senegal to the UN, for an exchange of views on interconnected global and regional peace and security developments.

During his mission, the Special Representative met also with H.E. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad; H.E. Honorable Dawda A. Jallow, Minister of Justice and Attorney General; the United Nations country team, and the diplomatic corps.

Special Representative Simão commended the strides made by the people of The Gambia in reinforcing democratic governance and human rights. He saluted ongoing efforts to advance the transitional justice process and to conclude constitutional reform. He also encouraged the authorities to pro-actively promote regional dialogue in the context of military transitions, a threat of expansion of terrorism, and ECOWAS’ reforms.

The Special Representative reiterated the United Nations’ continuous support to accompany the Government and the people of The Gambia on their path towards sustainable peace and development.