March 2026

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad informs the public that His Excellency President Adama Barrow held telephone conversations on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, with the leaders of Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan to discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East, particularly the recent attacks by Iran targeting several countries in the region. President Barrow, in his capacity as Chair of the 15th Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), expressed grave concern over the attacks and reaffirmed The Gambia’s solidarity with the governments and peoples of the affected countries, while emphasizing the importance of dialogue and diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐮𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, received the call from President Adama Barrow. During the conversation, President Barrow expressed deep concern over the recent attacks by Iran and reaffirmed The Gambia’s support for State of Kuwait in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and stability. The Crown Prince conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait, and expressed appreciation to President Barrow for his gesture of solidarity and support. 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 His Excellency President Barrow also spoke with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. The Gambian leader expressed strong concern over the attacks by Iran, noting that such actions represent a serious violation of state sovereignty and pose a threat to regional peace and stability. He reaffirmed The Gambia’s solidarity with the UAE and its support for measures aimed at safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity and the safety of its people. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed thanked President Barrow for The Gambia’s supportive stance. Both leaders stressed the importance of halting military escalation and prioritizing dialogue and diplomacy to preserve regional and international stability. 𝐇𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧 President Barrow also held a telephone conversation with His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The two leaders discussed the security situation in the region following the recent attacks by Iran. King Abdullah II underscored the importance of intensifying international efforts to restore calm through dialogue and diplomatic channels. He also warned against exploiting the current situation to restrict the freedom of worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque or alter the historical and legal status quo in the West Bank and Gaza. President Barrow emphasized the need for restraint, respect for international law and the protection of civilians. In closing , President Barrow reiterated The Gambia’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and called for collective international efforts to promote peace, security and stability in the Middle East.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟏𝟎 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Government of the Republic of The Gambia and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago have formally established diplomatic relations, marking an important step toward strengthening cooperation and friendship between the two nations. The Joint Communiqué was signed in London on 9 March 2026 by Hon. Sean Sobers, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Hon. Sering Modou Njie, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia, on behalf of their respective Governments. The establishment of diplomatic relations reflects the shared commitment of Trinidad and Tobago and The Gambia to deepen mutual understanding and expand cooperation in areas of common interest for the benefit of their peoples. Both countries reaffirmed their adherence to the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter, Commonwealth and international law, including the sovereign equality of states, respect for territorial integrity, and non-interference in the internal affairs of states. The two Ministers are currently in London attending the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM), where they also engaged in constructive dialogue on matters of mutual interest. The Governments expressed confidence that the establishment of diplomatic relations will contribute to stronger bilateral engagement and further support international peace and security.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of The Gambia is pleased to inform the public that Her Excellency Salimatta E. T. Touray, Non-Resident High Commissioner of the Republic of The Gambia to the Republic of Rwanda, presented her Letters of Credence to His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, on 6 March 2026. The ceremony formally accredited Ambassador Touray as The Gambia’s High Commissioner to Rwanda. She was accompanied by Mr. Lamin Suwareh, Senior Protocol Officer of the Embassy of The Gambia in Addis Ababa. During the meeting, Her Excellency conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from His Excellency Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia. She also highlighted several priority areas for enhanced cooperation between the two countries, including security collaboration, capacity building for civil servants, legal training, agriculture, food storage systems, trade and investment, migration management, diaspora engagement, and initiatives aimed at addressing youth unemployment. Speaking to journalists following the audience with President Kagame, Ambassador Touray described Rwanda as a trusted partner whose development experience offers valuable lessons for The Gambia. She reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations and development cooperation with Rwanda. The High Commissioner further outlined The Gambia’s interest in learning from Rwanda’s internationally recognized progress in digital governance, public service delivery, and security management. In particular, she highlighted Rwanda’s flagship digital government services platform, 𝐼𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑜𝐺𝑜𝑣, which has transformed access to public services by enabling citizens to process key government documents online. Ambassador Touray noted that cooperation between the two countries is already taking shape following the signing of a General Framework of Cooperation in 2021, covering key areas such as security and defence cooperation, public service reform, and judicial collaboration. She also emphasized opportunities for collaboration in education, including student exchanges in technical and higher education particularly in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as well as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Discussions are also underway regarding cooperation in legal education, including exchanges between law schools and bar training institutions in both countries. Looking ahead, the High Commissioner underscored the importance of trade and investment in strengthening bilateral relations, particularly within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Both governments are exploring ways to increase trade flows and promote investment opportunities between businesses in the two countries. On migration management and diaspora engagement, Ambassador Touray noted that The Gambia, which has a significant diaspora population, is interested in learning from Rwanda’s policies and strategies for effective diaspora engagement. “As High Commissioner of The Gambia, I am here to further strengthen the relations between our two countries. Our aim is to ensure that this partnership continues to grow so that both nations and their peoples benefit mutually,” she stated. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad congratulates Her Excellency Ambassador Salimatta E.T. Touray on this important diplomatic milestone and wishes her success in advancing the strong and growing relations between The Gambia and Rwanda.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, Sunday, 8th March 2026: The Honourable Sering Modou Njie, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of The Gambia, Sunday, 8th March 2026 addressed fellow Foreign Ministers at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) in London, expressing appreciation to the Chair and the Commonwealth Secretariat for convening the meeting at a critical moment for international cooperation. Minister Njie noted that the global landscape is undergoing profound change, with multilateralism facing increasing pressures in many parts of the world. However, he emphasized that the need for cooperation, dialogue, and collective action among nations has never been greater. Marking the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Minister also paid tribute to women in leadership and to women around the world whose contributions continue to strengthen societies and institutions. Reflecting on The Gambia’s engagement with the Commonwealth since rejoining the organization eight years ago, Minister Njie highlighted the significant support the country has received through technical assistance and institutional cooperation. This includes support in strengthening democratic governance, implementing the Commonwealth Cyber Declaration, advancing sustainable development initiatives, and improving public financial management through the use of the Meridian Debt Management System. He further acknowledged the Commonwealth’s contribution to The Gambia’s judicial and justice sectors, as well as the role played by Commonwealth election observation missions during the country’s 2021 elections, which helped reinforce transparency, public confidence, and credibility in the democratic process. Minister Njie emphasized that these contributions have been instrumental in supporting The Gambia’s national development priorities and in deepening its engagement within the wider Commonwealth community. He noted that the Commonwealth continues to hold a unique position in the international system, bringing together countries from diverse regions, cultures, and stages of development under a shared commitment to democratic values, cooperation, and mutual support. Looking ahead, the Minister underscored the importance of ensuring that the Commonwealth continues to deliver tangible and meaningful outcomes for its member states. He stressed that any reforms within the organization should prioritize substance over ceremony and strengthen the practical impact of its work. Minister Njie also highlighted the need to strengthen democratic resilience across the Commonwealth. Drawing on The Gambia’s own democratic transition in recent years, he emphasized the importance of principled engagement, preventive diplomacy, and adherence to the Commonwealth Charter as guiding pillars for collective action. On economic cooperation, the Minister called for greater efforts to expand trade opportunities, support small and medium enterprises, and promote investment partnerships across Commonwealth economies as key drivers of sustainable growth. He also underscored the urgent challenge posed by climate change, particularly for smaller and vulnerable states, and urged the Commonwealth to continue prioritizing climate finance and resilience-building initiatives. Concluding his remarks, Minister Njie reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to working constructively with all Commonwealth partners to ensure that the organization remains relevant, responsive, and effective in meeting the evolving needs of its member states.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, H.E. Sering Modou Njie today received the Copies of Letters of Credence of the Ambassador-Designate of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of The Gambia, H.E. Katrin Månsson. In welcoming Ambassador Månsson to The Gambia, Minister Njie congratulated her on her appointment and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to further strengthening the cordial and longstanding relations between The Gambia and the Kingdom of Sweden. He underscored The Gambia’s readiness to work closely with the Ambassador-Designate to deepen cooperation in key areas including trade, investment, energy, education, and capacity-building programmes. Ambassador Månsson expressed her sincere appreciation for the warm reception accorded to her and conveyed the Government of Sweden’s commitment to further enhancing the strong and friendly partnership between the two countries. She highlighted the importance of sustained bilateral cooperation, as well as collaboration at the multilateral level, particularly on pressing regional and global issues of mutual concern. The Ambassador also reaffirmed Sweden’s support for constructive engagement in international fora to advance peace, sustainable development, and shared global priorities. The presentation of the Copies of Letters of Credence marks an important step in further consolidating the friendly relations between The Gambia and the Kingdom of Sweden.