A 14-member delegation from The Gambia’s Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence and Security concluded a productive learning tour at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in May 2025.
Led by the Committee Chairman, Mr Samba Jallow, the delegation aimed to gain insights into best practices in international peace operations, good governance, and human security, leveraging KAIPTC’s extensive research.
A Senior Research Fellow at the KAIPTC, Dr Naila Salihu during a presentation emphasized that effective parliamentary oversight of the security sector hinges on three crucial components: Authority, Ability, and Attitude.
She highlighted that authority comes from a strong legal framework, ability from sufficient resources (human, financial, technical), and attitude from the political will of parliamentarians to actively engage.
The Dean of Academic Affairs at KAIPTC, Dr Kwaku Danso, noted the Centre’s long-standing relationship with the Gambian Parliament, including past collaborations on peace infrastructure research.
Mr Jallow expressed deep appreciation for the learning opportunity, stating the delegation’s intent to return for comprehensive training.
He hoped that the proposed training would equip them to scrutinize security reforms and budgets, and enhance their capabilities in conflict prevention and management in The Gambia.
The Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, Brigadier General Ayorrogo, reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to providing globally recognized capacity in African peace and security.
He highlighted KAIPTC’s partnerships with ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN), ensuring adherence to international best practices. He also emphasized KAIPTC’s role as a leading training institution in peacekeeping and across diverse thematic areas like conflict prevention, peacebuilding, human rights, and security sector governance.
He expressed hope that the interactions would significantly influence the delegation’s oversight responsibilities back home.