May 2025

The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, His Excellency Dr. Mamadou Tangara, on Monday, 28th April 2025, presided over the opening of a two-day Validation Workshop for the revised 2012 Foreign Service Regulations (FSR) at Prime Atlantic Hotel in Banjul. The workshop brought together senior government officials, Ambassadors and staff of The Gambia’s diplomatic missions who participated virtually alongside other key stakeholders to review and validate the revised FSR, marking a critical step toward strengthening professionalism, governance, and institutional efficiency within The Gambia’s Foreign Service. In his opening remarks, Honourable Minister Dr. Tangara described the Foreign Service as a “unique, specialised, and key pillar in any country’s governance system,” underscoring its role as the critical link between The Gambia and the outside world. He emphasised the need to reform the service through robust frameworks that respond to 21st-century diplomatic demands and challenges. The Minister also announced the Ministry’s intention to follow up the regulations with a comprehensive Foreign Service Bill and a codified Foreign Policy document. Delivering a keynote address, the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, Mr. Alieu Njie, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising the public service, noting that “the Foreign Service is the frontline of The Gambia’s international engagement.” He described the revised regulations as a “fundamental instrument guiding the administration, management, and effective functioning of the Foreign Service,” and emphasised their complementarity with existing civil service frameworks such as the Civil Service Act, General Orders, and Financial Instructions. Mr. Njie called on all stakeholders to critically assess the provisions to ensure they are realistic, enforceable, and fit-for-purpose. “The effectiveness of the Regulations will ultimately depend not only on their content but on their implementation and adherence,” he stated, highlighting the shared responsibility of all involved in the foreign service architecture. The event opened with welcoming remarks from Permanent Secretary I, Ambassador Lang Yabou of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who also moderated the technical review sessions. Permanent Secretary II, Ms. Fatou Kinneh Jobe, led the detailed presentation of the revised draft regulations, outlining key updates and the rationale behind the proposed reforms. Participants engaged in a joint review session, offering feedbacks section by section. A rapporteur later presented the key conclusions and recommendations, which were subsequently validated by consensus. The session concluded on Wednesday, 30th April 2025, with the collective endorsement of the revised regulations as a foundational framework for enhancing the efficiency and professionalism of The Gambia’s Foreign Service. In his closing remarks, Honourable Minister Dr. Tangara commended the technical teams and all stakeholders for their dedication, and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to implementing the validated document in line with the country’s foreign policy priorities.

The Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, His Excellency Dr. Mamadou Tangara, on Wednesday 30th April, 2025 received copies of the Letters of Credence of Her Excellency Mrs. Carmelina Ramírez Rodríguez, the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the Republic of The Gambia. Welcoming Ambassador Ramírez Rodríguez to Banjul, Foreign Minister Tangara congratulated her on her appointment and expressed optimism that her tenure will further strengthen the longstanding and cordial relations between The Gambia and Cuba. He commended the Government of Cuba for its historic cooperation, especially in the health and education sectors, and reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties. In her remarks, Ambassador Ramírez Rodríguez conveyed warm fraternal greetings from the Government and the people of Cuba and emphasized her country’s desire to continue supporting The Gambia’s development aspirations. She highlighted the long history of solidarity between the two nations and expressed her readiness to work closely with Gambian authorities to expand cooperation in mutually beneficial areas.