Banjul, 22 October 2025
During a side event held on the margins of the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the Committee for Justice (CFJ) convened a focused and timely discussion entitled “The Sahel: Accountability, Transitions, and Human Rights Under Siege.” The session, organized at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, brought together civil society, youth leaders, and experts to shed light on the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation across the Sahel region.
Although the event took place in the context of regional security and governance crises, speakers emphasized the widening gap between official state narratives and the lived realities of communities facing violence, repression, and displacement.
The discussions were enriched by the active participation of representatives from Burkina Faso, The Gambia, regional early-warning structures, and human rights organizations. Their testimonies and analyses provided essential insights that informed the debate and sharpened the calls for accountability and protection.
Key Issues Raised During the Session
Escalating violence and enforced disappearances in Burkina Faso
Ms. Binta Sidibé Gason, Vice President of KISAL Observator, highlighted the grave human rights situation in Burkina Faso. She drew attention to ongoing mass killings and enforced disappearances, stressing the urgent need for justice for victims of abuses committed by both state and non-state actors.
Protection of the girl child and women’s participation
Ms. Sarata Ceesay, First Speaker of the Children’s Parliament of The Gambia, delivered a compelling appeal for enhanced protection mechanisms for girls. She condemned the continued practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and underscored the crucial role of women’s representation in decision-making spaces. She called for education, community engagement, and collective responsibility to end gender-based violations.
Repression, shrinking civic space, and generational trauma
Ms. Binta Geena Baldeh, National Early Warning and Response Officer, spoke on the essential role of early warning systems in preventing crises and conflict. She shared deeply personal reflections on the trauma caused by restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly, citing her own family’s experience of political exile. She warned that persistent repression risks producing “a generation of politically traumatized people.”
Human rights, environmental degradation, and displacement
Mr. Muhammed Hydara, President of Amnesty KM Group, Amnesty International Local Groups, The Gambia, addressed the intersection of environmental decline and human rights. He emphasized how mass killings, military rule, and widespread violations contribute to large-scale displacement and migration, further intensifying humanitarian and ecological challenges across the Sahel.
A Collective Appeal for Action
Speakers concluded by outlining urgent recommendations:
- For the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to actively hold member states accountable for human rights violations in the Sahel.
- For civil society organizations to strengthen coordination, defend civic space, and amplify the voices of victims and frontline defenders.
- For regional and international actors to implement effective human rights mechanisms and ensure accountability for perpetrators—state and non-state alike.
- For the peoples of the Sahel to stand united in resisting oppression, injustice, and impunity.
A Renewed Commitment
The Committee for Justice reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to advancing human rights, promoting accountability, and protecting defenders across the Sahel. At a moment when the region stands at a critical crossroads, CFJ emphasizes that coordinated regional action and adherence to human rights obligations are essential to restoring justice and safeguarding the dignity of all communities.
