𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟑𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: His Excellency President Adama Barrow today held bilateral talks with His Excellency Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, President of the Gabonese Republic, at the State House in Banjul during the latter’s State Visit to The Gambia. The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and excellent relations between the two sister Republics and underscored their shared commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors.

The two Heads of State held cordial and productive discussions on the current state of relations between The Gambia and Gabon and explored new opportunities to strengthen cooperation in political and diplomatic affairs, trade and investment, agriculture, health, education, infrastructure, tourism and other areas of mutual interest. They also reaffirmed their common commitment to promoting sustainable development, regional peace and stability, and enhancing collaboration within the African Union and other multilateral fora.

A major highlight of today’s programme was the signing of several landmark bilateral instruments, which represent a significant milestone in the growing partnership between The Gambia and the Gabonese Republic. These agreements provide a strong institutional and legal framework for expanding cooperation and ensuring the effective implementation of joint initiatives between the two countries.

The instruments signed include:

1. 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – establishing a broad framework for cooperation across various sectors of mutual interest and reinforcing the overall bilateral partnership.

2. 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – creating a permanent bilateral mechanism to coordinate, monitor and periodically review the implementation of agreed areas of cooperation between the two Governments.

3. 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐧 – institutionalising regular consultations to strengthen diplomatic dialogue, policy coordination and collaboration on regional, continental and international issues of common interest.

4. 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 – a landmark achievement that will facilitate the movement of Gambian and Gabonese between the two countries. This important agreement will promote more frequent high-level visits, strengthen institutional collaboration, facilitate official engagements, and further deepen diplomatic relations between The Gambia and Gabon. It also reflects the high level of trust, confidence and friendship that exists between the two Governments.

The two Heads of State also signed a 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞́, reaffirming their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual benefit. The Joint Communiqué reflects the common vision of both Leaders to build a stronger strategic partnership founded on mutual respect, solidarity and shared aspirations for peace, prosperity and sustainable development. It further underscores their commitment to translating the excellent political relations between the two countries into concrete programmes and initiatives that will improve the lives of their peoples.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad welcomes the successful outcome of today’s bilateral engagements, which mark another important milestone in the relations between the Republic of The Gambia and the Gabonese Republic. The Ministry remains committed to working closely with all relevant institutions to ensure the effective implementation of the agreements signed today and to further strengthen the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two sister Republics for the mutual benefit of their peoples.