March 2026

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.