The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) of the United Nations and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, participated today in Banjul, The Gambia, in the official launching ceremony of the Security Sector Reform process (SSR).

The official launch ceremony was chaired by Gambia's President Adama Barrow, in the presence of the ECOWAS and the European Union Ambassadors, and members of the Government of The Gambia.

A concrete and essential turning point in the construction of a new Gambia where the security needs and expectations of citizens are to be the focus of the State, in the context of the democratic transition initiated, following the December 2016 elections

This ceremony is “a concrete and essential turning point in the construction of a new Gambia where the security needs and expectations of citizens are to be the focus of the State, in the context of the democratic transition initiated, following the December 2016 elections”, M. Ibn Chambas stated during his intervention.

Security Sector Reform ought to be pursued along with an accelerated constitutional and institutional reform, the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms, as mutually reinforcing elements promoting social cohesion, stability, peace and security.

By embarking on a comprehensive reform of its security sector, the Government of The Gambia has made “the choice of strengthening justice and security institutions to render them accessible and responsive to the needs and rights of all women, men, girls and boys in The Gambia”, M. Ibn Chambas added.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General reiterated the availability of the United Nations, and in particular UNOWAS, and the United Nations Country Team to continue to support the government in this endeavor and to promote the “sustaining peace” approach in The Gambia.