Banjul, 13 January 2026: Irregular migration remains one of Africa’s most pressing challenges, affecting countries across the sub-region, including The Gambia. Addressing the opening of the 32nd edition of SAFRA and its conference component, the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie, called for stronger regional cooperation to tackle the root causes driving young people to risk their lives in search of better opportunities abroad.
Speaking before more than 1,000 participants, including government officials and delegations from six African countries, Minister Badjie stressed that migration can no longer be addressed in isolation. He noted that many young people across The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea, Guinea-Conakry and Mali continue to embark on dangerous journeys through the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, often with tragic consequences.
According to him, the solution lies in creating opportunities at home and restoring hope among young people through economic empowerment, regional integration and people-centred development which the leadership of President Barrow has been doing over the years
“The Gambia cannot remain peaceful, and cannot sustain its stability, if the sub-region around us is in distress,” the Minister said, adding that peace, security and development are deeply interconnected across borders.
He described SAFRA as a strategic platform that can help transform long-standing regional ties into practical cooperation, particularly in the areas of migration management, peace and security, and cross-border trade. The 2025 SAFRA theme, which focuses on migration, peace and security, and cross-border trade, was described as timely, given the deep ethnic, cultural, religious and geographic links among participating communities.
Minister Badjie reaffirmed the Government’s strong commitment to SAFRA, describing it as more than a cultural gathering but a vehicle for integration, youth empowerment and local economic growth. He urged members to reposition the organisation as a results-driven sub-regional force aligned with ECOWAS integration goals.
He further highlighted The Gambia’s steady record of peace and stability under the leadership of President Adama Barrow, noting that over the past nine years, sustained efforts have been made to preserve peace as a foundation for development. He emphasized that peace and security remain non-negotiable pillars for national and regional progress.
Recognising the central role of young people in sustaining peace, the Minister revealed that the Government, through the National Youth Council and with support from the United Nations system, has developed a National Youth Action Plan on Peace and Security. He acknowledged the leadership of the Director of the National Youth Council, Alhagie Jarju, for steering the process.
He further proposed that SAFRA could serve as a shared platform through which member countries adopt and align similar national action plans, creating a common framework to strengthen collective peace and security across the region.
Touching on integration, Minister Badjie noted that while ECOWAS comprises 15 member states, SAFRA brings together 12 countries nearly half of the regional bloc placing it in a strategic position to drive deeper cooperation. He said stronger economic ties, political coordination and people-to-people relations could position SAFRA as a launchpad for broader continental integration.
The Minister emphasized that the outcomes of the conference should go beyond dialogue, stressing that leadership comes with responsibility and the duty to deliver measurable results. He expressed confidence that the forum would generate practical recommendations to guide action in the coming years.
He concluded by commending the SAFRA Scientific Committee for convening the conference and expressed optimism that its conclusions would be translated into concrete actions ahead of the next SAFRA edition, reaffirming The Gambia’s commitment to partnership, peace and regional solidarity.
By Lamarana S. Jallow
