April 2025

Banjul, 3rd March 2025 – The newly appointed World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative to The Gambia, Dr. Nathan Nsubuga Bakyaita, presented his Letters of Credence to His Excellency Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad, in a brief ceremony held in Banjul. Minister Tangara congratulated Dr. Bakyaita on his appointment and welcomed him to The Gambia. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with WHO to enhance the health and well-being of Gambians. Dr. Bakyaita expressed his dedication to strengthening the partnership between WHO and the Government of The Gambia. A Ugandan national with 27 years of experience in public health, Dr. Bakyaita has served in various African countries, including Uganda, Congo (Brazzaville), Kenya, and Zambia. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from Leeds University in the United Kingdom.  

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad, H.E. Dr. Mamadou Tangara, received a courtesy call from Mrs. Ellen T. Johnson and her delegation at his office in Banjul. The visit aimed to formally introduce the Commonwealth Women’s Business Association (CWBA) and provide an overview of their work and key objectives for The Gambia. Mrs. Johnson was accompanied by the Association’s Vice President, Mrs. Isatou Sanneh, and Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Aminata Marie Louise Badjan Mboob. Welcoming the delegation, Foreign Minister Tangara expressed his appreciation for their visit and commended them for their efforts in empowering Gambian women. He encouraged them to continue their valuable work toward advancing women’s economic participation and development.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad, His Excellency Dr. Mamadou Tangara, participated in the 4th edition of the MD Sahara Forum held in Dakhla, Morocco, from December 6–7, 2024. Organized by Maroc Diplomatique, the two-day forum coincided with the 25th anniversary of the reign of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the 10th anniversary of Morocco’s Southern Development Program. In his address, Minister Tangara underscored the importance of Morocco’s Royal Vision for Africa, emphasizing the need for collective action to tackle the continent’s multifaceted challenges. He commended the Kingdom of Morocco for creating a platform where African nations can collaborate, share resources, as well as human capital, and development technologies. Such collaboration, he noted, transforms policies and ideas into tangible outcomes. The Minister also highlighted the pivotal role of digitalization in international trade and addressing global challenges. He stressed that to ensure sustainable prosperity, countries must safeguard and secure information while building local capacities in digital technologies. Minister Tangara concluded by asserting that in Africa, people-to-people exchanges and intergovernmental cooperation must transcend theoretical concepts to become practical realities grounded in concrete action and shared responsibility.

On November 28, 2024, His Excellency Hadrammeh M. Sidibeh, High Commissioner of the Republic of The Gambia to the Republic of Senegal, presented his Letters of Credence to His Excellency General Assimi Goita, President of the Transition and Head of State of the Republic of Mali, at the Presidential Palace in Bamako. President Goita warmly welcomed High Commissioner Sidibeh and his delegation to Mali and congratulated him on his appointment. He extended greetings to His Excellency President Adama Barrow and underscored the shared cultural and ethnic values between Mali and The Gambia. President Goita further reaffirmed his government’s commitment to preserving the strong bilateral ties and advancing cooperation between the two nations. In his remarks, High Commissioner Sidibeh highlighted the enduring cultural and ethnic bonds between The Gambia and Mali. He expressed the Gambian Government’s keen interest in bolstering relations for mutual benefit, particularly in promoting trade and the exchange of goods and services. He also conveyed gratitude to President Goita and the Malian Government for fostering a conducive environment for Gambians residing in Mali. High Commissioner Sidibeh was accompanied by Ms. Fatou Kinneh Jobe, Deputy Head of Mission at The Gambia High Commission in Senegal, and Mr. Ansumana Bojang, Customs Attaché at the Mission.

During the ceremony, High Commissioner Kanagbo expressed her gratitude to the Foreign Minister and shared her enthusiasm for commencing her diplomatic duties in The Gambia. She underscored the enduring bilateral ties between the two sister nations and reaffirmed her commitment to further strengthening this relationship. In his remarks, Minister Tangara congratulated High Commissioner Kanagbo on her new appointment and assured her of the Ministry’s full support and cooperation throughout her tenure. He also took the opportunity to introduce key officials from the Ministry’s African Affairs Directorate, including its Director, Mr. Omar Baldeh.

His Excellency Ambassador Yousef Al-Dobaey was in The Gambia on a two – day working visit. As part of his engagements with the competent Gambian authorities, Excellency Assistant Secretary General Al-Dobaey paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Mamadou Tangara at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Banjul to discuss some very pertinent OIC related matters. Following his consultation meeting with the Foreign Minister, the OIC ASG for Political Affairs then proceeded to the Office of The President of the Republic to pay a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr. Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia and Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. In his press statement, Ambassador Al-Dobaey mentioned that The Gambia, in its capacity as the Chair of the 15th OIC Islamic Summit, occupies a position of high esteem within the OIC. He further expressed that the success of the 15th OIC Summit in Banjul reflects The Gambia’s pivotal role in advancing the objectives of the Organization and the Muslim Ummah, including through the promotion of Joint Islamic Action. The visit was  concluded with technical meetings with the representatives of relevant Gambian institutions, including the Office of The President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Gambia OIC Secretariat, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, and the Ministry of Justice.

In a statement read on behalf of the Permanent Secretary I, Ambassador Lang Yabou, Director Ndumbeh Saho highlighted that, “Today’s gathering marks a significant step forward in our nation’s commitment to uphold the principles and objectives of the Global Compact, reaffirming the Government’s pledge to safeguard the rights, dignity, and well-being of all migrants.” Director Saho further emphasized that the National Implementation Plan would serve as both a roadmap for addressing migration challenges and a framework for strengthening community resilience and protecting migrant rights. Additionally, the plan underscores the government’s commitment to foster international cooperation, promote safe migration pathways, and uphold the human rights of all individuals involved in the migration process. The workshop, facilitated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in The Gambia, was introduced by Programme Officer Aji Sukai Cham, who explained that this session is the first in a series of trainings involving NCM members, civil society, and the UN Country Team’s migration focal points. The training aims to enhance the capacity of government officials, enabling them to accurately report on migration issues in The Gambia. The Gambia has made substantial progress in migration reporting, advancing from covering 15 priority GCM objectives to reporting on all 23 objectives.

The Minister was accompanied by H. E. Mr. Omar Gibril Sallah, Ambassador of The Gambia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Permanent Representative to the OIC, Ambassador Habib T. B. Jarra – Deputy Head of Mission and Deputy Permanent Representative to the OIC,  Ambassador Yankuba Dibba – Chief Executive Officer, Gambia OIC Secretariat and Honourable Mr. Momodou Sabally Presidential Adviser, Office of The President. The Summit was chaired by His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. The Summit was held to  discuss the ongoing crisis and Israeli aggression against Gaza and Palestinian territories, as well as the attacks on the Republic of Lebanon and the Islamic Republic of Iran,  including, in general the overall peace, security and humanitarian situation in the Middle East Region. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, His Excellency Dr. Mamadou Tangara had an audience with the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, today, November 12, 2024, at the Headquarters of the Muslim World League in Riyadh. The two eminent dignitaries met following the just concluded Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit in Riyadh on 11th November 2024. Their discussions were centered on the excellent relations and cooperation between The Gambia and the Muslim World League, and the need for continued collaboration in promoting the mission of the Muslim World League for the benefit of the Islamic Ummah and humanity in general. His Excellency Secretary General Al – Issa commended and recognized The Gambia’s excellent and positive leadership efforts in promoting and championing the cause of Islam and the Muslim Ummah, under the guidance of His Excellency President Adama Barrow, Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. In this regard, the Secretary General made reference to the recent hosting of both the Islamic Ulema Conference and the 15th OIC Islamic Summit in Banjul, as well as The Gambia’s leadership in pursuing the cause and interests of the Rohingya Muslim Community in Myanmar, as clear manifestation of The Gambia’s dedication to the cause of Islam and commitment to the interest and aspirations of the Muslim Ummah.

The Minister expressed his gratitude to the UN Resident Coordinator, Heads of UN Agencies, and the entire UN staff for their contributions towards The Gambia’s development journey. Furthermore, Minister Tangara expressed that the UN Cooperation Framework should be in line with The Gambia’s Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP). Dr. Tangara asserted that there should be a collective aspiration among all development stakeholders to accelerate The Gambia’s transformation towards prosperity. For his part, UN Resident Coordinator Paul stated that the retreat should serve as a catalyst to strengthen the UN Country Team’s efforts to better serve the Gambian people. Finally, the Foreign Minister wished them fruitful deliberations ahead and continued strengthened partnerships with the overall outcome to provide better services to The Gambian people.  

Minister Tuggar, accompanied by his delegation, held a meeting with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Permanent Secretary I, Ambassador Lang Yabou; Director of African Affairs, Mr. Omar Baldeh; and other technical staff. During their discussions, both parties exchanged pleasantries and reflected on the enduring and strong bilateral relationship between The Gambia and Nigeria. They emphasized areas of shared interest, particularly the importance of enhancing collaboration in the education sector. Following a productive engagement, Minister Tuggar concluded his one-day visit to The Gambia and was bid farewell at Banjul International Airport by his Gambian counterpart.