Opinion: Gambia’s Global Stance at UNGA 80

Alhassan Drammeh

By Alhassan Drammeh, Masters Student, Diplomacy & International Relations, University of The Gambia

Published on 26th September 2025

When Vice President Muhammad Jallow addressed the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) on behalf of His Excellency President Adama Barrow, he did more than speak for a nation, he signalled that The Gambia is done with silence. In an arena crowded with pledges and posturing, Gambia’s contribution stood out by insisting not just on what ought to be, but on what is happening, what has been achieved, and the direction we intend to go.

One recurring challenge in diplomacy is the assumption that if a head of state is absent from a major international forum, the country itself is invisible. Yet many nations choose to delegate representation; Gambia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and others routinely send Vice Presidents, and the United Kingdom sent its Deputy Prime Ministers to the 80th UN General Assembly. The key lies not in presence alone, but in clarity and authority of message. The Gambia’s decision to have Vice President Jallow deliver its address was a deliberate move grounded in that principle.

At UNGA 80, His Excellency Vice President Muhammad Jallow reaffirmed Gambia’s support for Palestine, stating, “Gambia remains committed to the just cause of Palestine, supporting their right to self-determination and their state within the 1967 borders.” That is not a mere diplomatic gesture. As Chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), President Barrow has effectively entrusted our nation with the moral weight of representing justice within the Muslim world. In reaffirming solidarity with Palestine, Gambia speaks with conviction, aligning not with rhetoric, but with an active international role.

Beyond Palestine, the speech accentuated Gambia’s posture on several global issues: reaffirming the One China policy, opposing long-standing embargoes on Cuba, advocating for structural reform in global institutions, and pushing for stronger climate financing ahead of COP30.  These are not idle associations. They signal where The Gambia and its government place themselves in relation to global power dynamics, justice narratives, and strategic alliances.

What sets this speech apart is the balance between external advocacy and internal accountability. VP Jallow did not merely call on the world to change; he pointed to reforms at home: the passage of the Special Prosecutor’s Office Act 2024, a new Anti-Corruption law, and a commitment to participatory democracy and institutional strengthening.  He reminded the world that The Gambia is not a passive proclaimer of values, it is working to live them.

This matters, especially for young Gambians. We often watch from the sidelines, hoping for change. But this moment reminds us that change begins with alignment, alignment between what you say and what you do. Gambia’s speech at UNGA offers a model: when you stand for justice, solidarity, and fair global order, you begin by cleansing your own institutions first.

The influences Gambia aligned with at UNGA 80, Palestinian justice, equitable global reform, climate equity, and respect for sovereign dignity, are choices diplomats make. They define how others perceive us. With the use of tact and diplomacy, under President Barrow’s era, Gambia is choosing to be a small state with big principles.

Let us take this message not merely as praise for our government, but as a call to engagement: to follow, study, critique, and strengthen the alignment between national purpose and global posture. That is how nations grow, not in territory, but in trust, in voice, and in legacy.

Alhassan Drammeh