Lawmakers from across West Africa have convened in Banjul to discuss urgent measures to protect the region’s vulnerable coastlines from environmental degradation.

The National Assembly of The Gambia is hosting the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Alliance of Local Parliamentarians and Elected Representatives for the Protection of the Environment of West African Littoral Countries (APPEL).

The event, held alongside a high-level regional workshop, has brought together parliamentarians from nearly eight nations under the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Programme (WACA ResiP2).

Deputy Speaker Seedy S.K. Njie described the threats facing coastal communities as “critical,” highlighting challenges such as coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, and the impact on farmland crucial to women rice farmers. “Climate change is no longer a distant concern—it is a present danger affecting the livelihoods of our people,” he said.

Hon. Njie outlined measures already undertaken by The Gambia’s legislature, including reinforced plastic bag bans, enhanced oversight of environmental agencies, and a review of the National Environment Management Act to increase penalties for violations such as illegal sand mining.

Speaking at the assembly, Hon. Saikou Bah, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on the Regional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation (PRCM), stressed the importance of global frameworks like the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, which has now reached 50 ratifications.

“The treaty is vital for countries like The Gambia, whose economy and food security depend heavily on healthy oceans,” he said.

Ahmed Senhoury, PRCM Executive Director, urged participants to move beyond discussions and adopt practical strategies to combat threats such as erosion, marine pollution, and overexploitation of resources.

The assembly aims to enhance cooperation among lawmakers and empower local actors to safeguard West Africa’s coastlines and marine ecosystems for future generations.

By Adama Makasuba