By Modou Touray
Gambiaʼs Vice President Mohammed B. S Jallow called for global peace at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He stress the urgency of halting wars that continue to destabilise communities across the world. “The ongoing conflicts raging around the world would need to stop immediately,” he declared, warning of “unnecessary deaths, displacement and untold suffering of civilians from Palestine to Sudan, Lake Chad Basin, Ukraine to Russia, Haiti, Libya to the Sahel, and in other corners of the world.”.
He said the international community must “muster the necessary political will and courage to end intractable conflicts,” insisting that “the bleeding must stop.” he said.
He also underlined the importance of humanitarian access, urging conflict parties to “allow immediate and uninterrupted humanitarian aid to reach the suffering population” and to commit to ending hostilities.
Turning specifically to the Middle East, VP Jallow noted that the “plight of the Palestinians remains unresolved,” calling it a matter of “justice, respect for international humanitarian law and self-determination.” He reaffirmed The Gambia’s long-standing support for a two-state solution, stating:
“We reaffirm our call for the two-state solution to urgently enable the Palestinian people to regain their legitimate national rights as recognised by the international community through its recognition of the state of Palestine within the 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.” he stated.
The Vice President welcomed international efforts to keep Palestine on the global agenda, saying The Gambia “express our appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France for the recently concluded high-level conference on the question of Palestine.”.
VP Jallow also used the platform to highlight reforms underway in The Gambia since the political transition 2017.
He cited the enactment of the Special Prosecutor’s Office Act 2024, giving the office jurisdiction over international crimes and serious rights violations, and the introduction of a new Anti-Corruption Act to establish a permanent commission.
These steps, he said, are part of “our national efforts to deliver restorative and transformative justice, build a clear path towards nation-building, and lay a foundation for social justice as well as prevent impunity.” he remarked.
He added that The Gambia is committed to consolidating democracy through transparent elections, strengthening state institutions, and respecting fundamental freedoms. “Our goal is to consolidate and nurture a national culture of accountability and respect for human rights in fulfilment of our democratic and international obligations,” he said.
The Vice President also emphasised the role of women and youth in building peace and democratic governance. He stressed that “women must always have a seat at the negotiating table” because they “usually bear the brunt of conflicts.” He also pledged continued support for youth participation in public life and reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to media freedom and freedom of assembly.
Beyond Palestine, VP Jallow reaffirmed The Gambia’s positions on global issues. He expressed solidarity with China through support for the “One China policy,” called for the lifting of the economic embargo on Cuba, and endorsed Morocco’s autonomy initiative as a path toward resolving the Western Sahara dispute.
He also commended Morocco’s regional development efforts, including the Morocco–Nigeria Gas Pipeline project.
On Climate Change
VP Jallow urged ambitious commitments ahead of COP30 in Brazil, warning that current financing remains inadequate. “We need to take concrete decisions at COP30… to galvanise support for more climate financing,” he said, stressing that developing countries face acute constraints due to debt distress.
The Vice President further called for long-overdue reform of the UN Security Council to correct Africa’s underrepresentation, describing it as “a historical injustice that urgently needs to be corrected.” He argued that meaningful reform would restore the Council’s legitimacy as the body responsible for global peace and security.
Jallow closed by urging delegates to seize the moment of UNGA 80 to forge a renewed global consensus. “This is our only planet,” he said. “Let us preserve it for posterity. The government of The Gambia is ready to play its part in making our world a better place for all.”.
