SPOTLIGHT: Muhammed Alamin Trawally’s Vision to Make The Gambia an International Hub for Peace

Published by: The Fatu Network

Muhammed Alamin Trawally is a Gambian peace advocate, policy entrepreneur, law student and founder of the Gambia Peace Project, an initiative seeking to position The Gambia as a leading African centre for peacebuilding, responsible citizenship, social cohesion and sustainable development.

His work focuses on the relationship between peace, public policy, ethical leadership and national development, with an emphasis on preventing conflict before it emerges.

Through the Gambia Peace Project, Trawally is promoting a vision of The Gambia as an international hub for peace education, research, dialogue and cooperation. He believes the country’s longstanding traditions of tolerance and peaceful coexistence could attract international investment, strategic partnerships, global conferences, educational institutions and development opportunities.

According to Trawally, peace in the 21st century should be regarded not merely as the absence of conflict but as a strategic national asset capable of contributing to economic growth and human development.

He also serves as Country Director of the Institute of International Peace Leaders (IIPL) in The Gambia, an independent peace and policy think tank focused on peace, security, democratic governance and sustainable development, particularly in relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16, which promotes peace, justice and strong institutions.

Trawally is an Ambassador of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), based in Sydney, Australia, and the author of Pearls of Sustainable Peace (2025), a book exploring the importance of values-based education, civic responsibility, ethical leadership and preventive public policy in building peaceful societies.

A central theme of his work is what he calls “Peace as Infrastructure”, the idea that peace should be treated as a deliberate public investment, developed through strong families, quality education, inclusive governance, effective institutions and responsible citizenship.

With professional training in international conflict analysis and peacebuilding, alongside certifications in civil-military coordination, the rule of law, and media and arts for peacebuilding, Trawally seeks to combine international policy perspectives with community-based initiatives.

According to his professional profile, he was selected in 2023 among 1,000 global innovators supported by the United Nations Foundation for work relating to climate change, human security and sustainable development. He has also participated in international engagements, including the Global Peace Summit in Dubai and the Sevagram Ashram International Symposium in India.

His broader philosophy draws on the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ vision of peaceful, just and inclusive societies. He argues that sustainable peace requires more than responding to crises, calling instead for investments in the social values, institutions and economic conditions that help prevent violence.

Through the Gambia Peace Project, Trawally and his team hope to establish a lasting platform for peace education, leadership development, dialogue, research and international cooperation.

His ambition is to see The Gambia recognised not only for its peaceful traditions but also for its potential to become a centre of knowledge, innovation and global partnerships dedicated to sustainable peace.