Thursday 25 September 2025: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau or Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, was joined by the Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, Muhammed B.S Jallow, and the United Nations Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel, Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, to announce the official launch of The Future of Governance in the Sahel Report: (Re)building Social Cohesion and Public Trust, on the margins of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly. Led and sponsored by UNDP, the report, unveiled earlier this year at the inaugural Sahel Governance Forum in Banjul, is the result of over a year of in-depth research, regional consultations, and peer review. It offers a critical analysis of governance challenges in the Sahel—including structural weaknesses in justice, transparency, and public service delivery—and sets out a roadmap for restoring trust between states and citizens through inclusive institutions, local leadership, and economic justice.
The High-Level Side Event at the 80th United Nations General Assembly was co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Gambia to the UN and UNDP, in collaboration with The Office of the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel and UNDP and officiated by H.E. Mr. Muhammad B.S. Jallow Vice President of The Republic of The Gambia.
This launch provides a novel impetus for dialogue among governments, regional institutions, civil society, private sector leaders, and international partners on advancing a new governance paradigm in the Sahel region. The report emphasizes that shifting from security-led to governance-centered approaches is essential to building public trust, social cohesion, and long-term stability in the region. Anchored in the values of transparency, dignity, justice, and inclusion, the Sahel Governance Report calls for leadership rooted in service and accountability and offers a shared call to action: to make governance work for all. Read Full Report: ENG & FR