President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh was born at the time (25 May 1965) when the "winds of democratic change" blew over the African continent. It is said that he had a strong influence over his peers and stood up as an advocate of peace and reconciliation among the younger generation and sometimes between
much older people. As a young man he had an abhorrence of ethnic bias, injustice and man’s inhumanity to man.

Throughout the ten years he has held the reins of power in The Gambia, he has always had the solid and firm conviction that "the prevention of war is our only safe path to global peace and security which will ensure rapid victory in our collective fight against hate, terrorism, racism and exploitation". On account of such conviction, he has persevered in making significant contributions to the promotion of peace, democracy, human rights and the resolution of conflicts particularly in the West African sub-region.

President Jammeh’s mediation efforts in many conflict situations within the sub-region (Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone) and beyond (Eriteria, East Timor) are underscored by his staunch conviction that international peace and stability are indispensable pre-requisites for human development. For this reason The Gambia actively contributes to the United Nations peacekeeping missions both on the continent and at international level.

President Jammeh has demonstrated a sense of total commitment in promoting human rights and the culture of peace within the West African sub-region. It is well known that he has put in his personal resources towards ending conflicts in Casamance (Southern Senegal) and Guinea Bissau; evacuating Gambians and other nationals trapped in war-torn Cote d’voire, Liberia and Sierra Leone nationals have bestowed on President Jammeh the award of Humanitarian Excellence for his "tremendous efforts in assisting Sierra Leone to bring back the glory lost as a nation through international conflict". Jammeh reiterates constantly "all we want to see is an end to war so that we an all live in peace". President Jammeh has always stated unequivocally" our strong commitment to the fight against global terror, global intolerance and violence, hatred and racism which are obstacles to world peace". President Yahya Jammeh unceasingly denounces violence, hatred and terrorism while imploring all those in conflict to exhaust the path of dialogue for a durable peaceful solution because, as he says, "we believe in peace and love".

With his foresight, patriotism and commitment to the welfare and development of all Gambians, President Yahya Jammeh spearheaded the initiative to found the Jammeh Foundation for Peace, of which he is Chief Patron.

The Jammeh Foundation for Peace is an umbrella independent, apolitical and charitable body committed to the improvement of the quality of life of peoples in all communities in The Gambia.

The Foundation whose target beneficiaries are women, children and the youths, aims principally at providing support to the less privileged in the areas of Health, Agriculture and Enterprise Development. These areas truly reflect President Jammeh’s philosophy of sustainable development that the country has to rid itself of ignorance, hunger and disease in order that its people may live in peace.

Against that backdrop, President Jammeh has, almost single-handedly, provided strong institutional support as a means of motivation and incentive to the less privileged and disadvantaged sections of the community and the country at large. President Jammeh is credited with the setting up of several philanthropic schemes such as:

The Jammeh Foundation for Peace

The President’s Empowerment of Girls Education Project

President Jammeh Award for Excellence in Education

The Health for Peace Initiative in the West African sub-region

Dr. Yahya Jammeh CILSS Forest Park Competition.

His Excellency the President initiated the Health for Peace Initiative at a time when our immediate region had spontaneous military conflicts particularly in Guinea Bissau. His belief was that since diseases know no boundaries, health could be used as a medium to get officials from conflicting states to dialogue and thus open a medium of communication. This proved to be vital in the case of Guinea Bissau and Senegal. The Gambia is designated the overall co-ordinator of the Initiative for the sub-region.

The Minister of health of the Republic of Senegal lauded the Initiative when she remarked that "this dynamic collaboration enables us to serenely envisage high expectations for the future of "the Health Initiative for Peace".

Dr. Kabba Joiner, Executive Director of the West African Health Organisation, applauded President Jammeh for the Gambia’s active role in the HFPI and the assistance being provided to neighbouring countries.

In another similar development, African Integration Day (20th August each Year) is a day set aside by The Gambia, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal to bring together countries of the West African sub-region and beyond to the "common understanding of unity in every respect". The Senegalese First Lady, Madame Viviane Wada recently noted that the celebration of this Day by the children of the neighbouring countries sends a message "that peace is not attainable except by the way of African Integration".

President Jammeh firmly believes in the pursuit of peace and has become reputed to reinforce the message, at both national and international for a, "that without peace there cannot be any development. Speaking during a State Visit to Sudan, a country stricken with a prolonged internecine war, President Jammeh further expatiated "without peace and stability, wealth and prosperity cannot be created; and if the people of Africa are ever to catch up with the rest of the world in human advancement and security, then we must first and foremost put an end to all the senseless wars and conflicts that have for so long been the bane of our continent. Let us stop wars and apply our enormous human and material resources to the pursuit of socio-economic development. And as I launch this appeal to Africa from this city of Khartoum, a citadel of Pan-Africanism, I hope and pray that I will be heard". As a result, he had untiringly advocated for a greater chance to dialogue and the building of common understanding as a means of peacemaking and conflict resolution. For this stance, Gambians cherish the hope that under President Jammeh’s leadership, the country will always play her role in the maintenance of international peace and security. At the same time, however, he admits, "it is a collective responsibility of nations, be they rich or poor, bit or small, to work together to fight against violence in any form.