Ya Awa Touray

𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐥, 𝟏𝟐𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad H.E. Sering Modou Njie on Monday, 11th May 2026 received the outgoing United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative to The Gambia, H.E. Ndeye Rose Sarr, at his office in Banjul on the occasion of the completion of her diplomatic assignment in the country. During the meeting, H.E. Sering Modou Njie commended H.E. Sarr for her exemplary service and the significant support she rendered to The Gambia during her tenure. He praised her dedication, able leadership, and valuable contributions to the country’s development efforts through UNFPA-supported programmes and initiatives. Minister Njie acknowledged the important role played by H.E. Sarr in strengthening cooperation between UNFPA and the Government of The Gambia, particularly in the areas of population and development, gender equality, reproductive health, and youth empowerment. He expressed gratitude for her unwavering commitment and wished her continued success in her future endeavours. For her part, H.E. Ndeye Rose Sarr expressed sincere appreciation to Foreign Minister Njie for his leadership and for the support extended to UNFPA, which facilitated the effective implementation of its programmes in The Gambia.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Permanent Secretary II at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Ms. Fatou Kinneh Jobe, on Wednesday, 6th May 2026, received members of the Sunu Reewu Medical Mission during a courtesy call at the Ministry in Banjul. The delegation briefed the Permanent Secretary on the activities and achievements of the Sunu Reewu Medical Mission, a non-profit initiative founded in 2021 by Gambian national Victoria Lissong Richards-Ohwotu to help bridge healthcare gaps in The Gambia. During the meeting, discussions focused on the Mission’s continued support to the country’s healthcare sector through medical outreach, training, educational exchange programmes, and donations of medical supplies and equipment to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH). The delegation highlighted the progress of the Medical Mission over the years, including the deployment of volunteer physicians and healthcare professionals from the United States and Canada who continue to work closely with Gambian medical personnel in providing critical surgeries, treatment, and specialized training. In welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Gambia, Hon. Sering Modou Njie, Permanent Secretary Jobe commended the initiative for its valuable contribution to strengthening healthcare delivery and capacity building in The Gambia. She noted that health remains one of the Government’s key priority areas, emphasizing the importance of investing in the wellbeing of citizens. “Health is wealth, and no meaningful national development can take place without a healthy population,” Permanent Secretary Jobe stated. “The Government of The Gambia highly values partnerships and initiatives that contribute to improving healthcare services and enhancing the capacity of our medical institutions and professionals.” She further reaffirmed the Ministry’s support for initiatives that promote humanitarian assistance, medical collaboration, and skills transfer for national development. The delegation also expressed appreciation to the Embassy of The Gambia in Washington, D.C. for its continuous support and cooperation in facilitating the Mission’s activities. The team further briefed the Permanent Secretary on ongoing activities during the current mission, including health fairs, specialized autism education workshops, surgical procedures, and medical training sessions involving local and international healthcare professionals. The meeting further underscored the importance of collaboration between the Gambian diaspora, international partners, and national institutions in improving healthcare services and supporting community wellbeing across the country.

On the margins of the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) in New York, the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Gambia H.E Sering Modou Njie on Wednesday 6th May 2026 held a bilateral meeting with the United Nations Under Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States Ambassador Fatima Rabab. The meeting discussed issues of importance to both sides including the Mid-Term Review of the Doha Programme of Action for LDC’s slated for March 2027 in Qatar, the African Regional Review of the Doha Programme of Action scheduled to be held in Addis in June 2026, the Gambia’s proposed Chairmanship of the LDC Group, the coming LDC Future Forum slated to take place in Helsinki and the proposal for the holding of the 2027 LDC Future Forum in Africa. The two sides also discussed matters relating to international and development cooperation, graduation readiness for LDC member states, building an online university, resilience building for LDCs, food stockholding mechanism to address food security and the UN @80 Reforms. Hon. Minister Njie conveys the Gambia’s appreciation and readiness to continue working closely with the Office of the UN High Representative on matters affecting LDCs. Under Secretary-General and High Representative Ambassador Rabab also extended appreciation to The Gambia for its leadership on LDC issues and partnership with her Office over the years. H.E Sering Modou Njie was accompanied by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Lang Yabou, Permanent Representative and Ambassador of The Gambia to the UN H.E Lamin B. Dibba and Ms. Binta Jeng, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of The Gambia to the United Nations, New York.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Permanent Secretary II at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Ms. Fatou Kinneh Jobe, on Tuesday, 5th May 2026 warmly received a delegation from the African Union Commission Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) Directorate during a courtesy call at the Ministry in Banjul. The delegation is currently in The Gambia from 4th to 7th May 2026 as part of a stakeholder engagement mission aimed at supporting quick impact projects within the framework of the PCRD initiative. The mission focuses on key areas including transitional justice, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration /security sector reform (DDR/SSR), health, education, humanitarian assistance, and human rights. During the meeting, Permanent Secretary Jobe warmly welcomed the delegation and assured them of the Ministry’s fullest support and cooperation throughout their mission in The Gambia. PS Jobe highlighted that the visit is a clear demonstration of the African Union’s steadfast commitment to supporting its Member States in advancing peacebuilding, recovery, and sustainable development. She noted that The Gambia is particularly honoured to be among the priority countries selected for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) interventions, adding that the recognition reflects both the progress the country has made and the important work that still lies ahead as it continues on its path of national transformation. Discussions centered on The Gambia’s transitional justice process and the country’s continued efforts to promote reconciliation, accountability, and respect for human rights following the democratic transition. Permanent Secretary Jobe provided insights into the progress made by The Gambia in strengthening democratic institutions and promoting accountability and good governance. The meeting also provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on areas of collaboration and support under the PCRD framework, particularly in initiatives aimed at sustaining peace, empowering communities, and enhancing institutional capacity. The African Union delegation commended The Gambia’s commitment to peacebuilding and transitional justice, reaffirming the Commission’s readiness to continue engaging with national stakeholders in support of the country’s development and stability efforts.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: A high-level delegation led by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Hon. Sering Modou Njie, presented The Gambia’s Voluntary Review Report on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) at the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) in New York. The submission reaffirms the Government’s sustained commitment to advancing safe, orderly and regular migration, while addressing emerging challenges through inclusive and evidence-based policy approaches. Recognised as a GCM Champion Country, The Gambia was among the 164 United Nations Member States that adopted the Global Compact for Migration on 19 December 2018. This milestone reaffirmed the country’s commitment to multilateral cooperation, the protection of human rights, and strengthened migration governance, while underscoring migration as a shared global responsibility and a key driver of sustainable development. Since the adoption of the Compact, The Gambia has recorded notable progress across key priority areas. Significant achievements have been made in remittances, diaspora engagement, public awareness, border management, migrant protection, and return and reintegration. Improvements in remittance systems, supported by financial innovation, digital solutions, and strengthened reporting mechanisms, have enhanced the developmental impact of migration on households and the broader economy. Reintegration programmes continue to support returnees through livelihood assistance, skills development, and psychosocial services, contributing to sustainable reintegration at the community level. Public awareness initiatives, led by government institutions and partners, have strengthened understanding of migration risks and opportunities, particularly among youth and high-migration communities. The Gambia has further demonstrated leadership by mainstreaming migration into the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (2023–2027) and advancing the development of a National Migration Strategy, ensuring stronger alignment between migration governance and broader socio-economic priorities. The active engagement of civil society, the private sector, the media, and diaspora actors has contributed to a more inclusive and participatory migration governance framework, enhancing outreach, service delivery, and innovation. Lessons learned from implementation continue to inform ongoing efforts, with emphasis on strengthening data systems, enhancing institutional coordination, expanding regular migration pathways, and building national capacities. Additional progress has been made in addressing trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants through improved border coordination, victim protection systems, institutional capacity-building, and ongoing legal reforms supported by national authorities and partners. The preparation of the report followed a structured, consultative, and evidence-based process, grounded in a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. The process was coordinated through the National Coordination Mechanism (NCM) on Migration, with technical support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Network on Migration in The Gambia. To ensure inclusivity and broad national ownership, multi-stakeholder consultations were convened in March-April 2026. These consultations brought together representatives from government ministries, departments and agencies, United Nations entities, civil society organisations through TANGO, the media, academia, the private sector, trade unions, national human rights institutions, and organisations representing persons with disabilities, including the Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD). Regional consultations were also conducted across selected local government areas to capture sub-national perspectives, particularly on internal migration dynamics and community-level drivers. On the margins of IMRF 2026, The Gambia co-chaired a high-level side event titled “Saving Lives and Missing Migrants: From Recommendations to Results,” held on Tuesday, 5 May. The event was co-organised with the Republic of Ecuador and the United Nations Network on Migration, in collaboration with key partners, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). In his intervention, the Honourable Minister emphasized that behind each statistic lies a human story, a life cut short and families left in uncertainty and grief. These tragedies, he stressed, are preventable and require urgent, collective action. The Government of The Gambia reiterates its strong commitment to strengthening partnerships at national, regional, and global levels to ensure that migration remains safe, orderly, and beneficial for all. It will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to advance the objectives of the Global Compact for Migration and to harness the positive contributions of migration for national development.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋 𝟐𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: On Thursday 16th April 2026, the Permanent Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service of The Gambia, Ambassador Lang Yabou, received a High-Level Delegation of the Leadership and Strategic Studies Course from the Nigerian Army Resource Center (NARC) in Abuja Nigeria at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad. The 54 Member-Delegation which was led by Major General Khalifa Myam, other Senior Officers and 44 Course Participants was in The Gambia as part of a study tour from the 12th to 17th April 2026 under the theme: “Defeating Emerging Asymmetric Threats: The Need for Regional Cooperation.” In receiving the delegation on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Sering Modou Njie, Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Yabou, warmly welcomed them to The Gambia, describing the country as their “second home” and reaffirming the longstanding and cordial bilateral relations between the Republic of The Gambia and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He expressed sincere appreciation for the decision of the Nigerian Army Resource Center to choose The Gambia for this important study tour. While, delivering his address on the theme of the Study Tour, Ambassador Lang Yabou paid tribute to the men and women in uniform across the region who continue to serve with dedication and commitment in safeguarding national and regional peace and security. He also expressed the Gambia’s deep appreciation to the Government and people of Nigeria for their enduring support and cooperation, particularly in the training and development of Gambian armed and security personnel as well as, overall contribution to the Gambia’s development strides. Ambassador Yabou underscored the importance of regional solidarity and cooperation in addressing evolving security challenges, noting that the current global environment is marked by complex and dynamic asymmetric threats to peace and stability that needs our collective action to address them. Furthermore, in urging countries to unite in order to confront the emerging asymmetric threats, Permanent Secretary Yabou, expressed sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the many years it has partnered in and supported efforts to prioritize African peace, security and development as cardinal principles of its foreign policy and development cooperation, citing Gambian security officers – many of whom were trained in Nigerian institutions – as an example. As measures to address the emerging asymmetric threats, Permanent Secretary Yabou highlighted the importance of enhanced collaboration, intelligence sharing, capacity building among countries in the ECOWAS sub-region, the need for continued efforts and cooperation toward addressing asymmetric threats, to bring about lasting peace and development for the people in the sub-region. In summarizing his presentation, Ambassador Lang Yabou emphasized that effectively addressing emerging asymmetric threats requires sustained international and regional cooperation, partnership and solidarity in strengthening state institutions, ensuring the protection of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, address hopelessness, ensuring inclusiveness and consensus building on national issues, and spearheading collective efforts to tackle underlying challenges such as poverty, youth unemployment, humanitarian crisis, climate change, lack of sustainable development, and illiteracy in the region. Ambassador Yabou concluded by reaffirming the Gambia’s commitment and determination to promoting peace, security, and development within the region and beyond. “As a government and people, The Gambia continues to attach great importance to the attainment of peace and security in the sub-region, Africa and beyond, and our partnership with the Federal Republic of Nigeria in fostering international cooperation in the search for solutions to eradicating asymmetric threats would continue. The Gambia, would continue to champion and be committed to the cause of addressing all forms of threat to peace and security in the region and beyond and we remain optimistic that, with the required support from all partners and stakeholders, the region would achieve the desired positive outcomes for our efforts in securing a region free from all forms of conflicts” asserted Ambassador Yabou. “Together with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we would continue to support efforts geared towards addressing emerging asymmetric threats and bringing about lasting peace and development for the people of our region” Permanent Secretary Ambassador Lang Yabou concluded. The engagement provided an opportunity for Senior Officials and Participants to interact with Ambassador Lang Yabou, asked questions and exchanged views on peace and security issues in the region and beyond and of particular interest during this session relates to maritime security, illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, migration, etc. On their part, Major General Khalifa Myam and delegation expressed their appreciation and gratitude to Gambian authorities for the great hospitality extended to them and the quality of the presentation and engagement at the Ministry. They reechoed, the many years of strong cooperation and partnership between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and The Gambia describing it as a relationship that is unique and beneficial to both sides. The session ended with the delegation conveying Nigeria’s assurance and commitment to continue partnering with The Gambia. The Study Tour enables the Delegation to visit different Gambian Institutions and, exchange insights on strategies for addressing asymmetric threats and, is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations and deepen cooperation between the Nigerian Army Resource Centre and institutions in The Gambia, while contributing to ongoing regional efforts to ensure stability and security across West Africa.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟏𝟑𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: At the 9th Meeting of Ministers of the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone (ZOPACAS) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (8–9 April 2026), The Gambia reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to regional peace, security, and sustainable development. The Meeting focused on strengthening cooperation across key priority areas, including maritime security, ocean governance, climate change, transnational illicit activities, the protection of global commons, as well as peace and security in the South Atlantic. Delivering a statement on behalf of the President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Sering Modou Njie, extended warm greetings to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and commended Brazil for successfully hosting the high-level meeting. The Minister emphasized the growing urgency for collaboration among South Atlantic nations in addressing evolving global and regional challenges. “The need for regional solidarity and coordinated action has never been greater,” he stated, pointing to threats such as climate change, maritime insecurity, and transnational crime. Highlighting the importance of maritime security, he stressed that “peace and maritime security remain fundamental prerequisites for development,” calling for stronger cooperation in information sharing, joint surveillance, and law enforcement to combat illegal fishing, trafficking, and other crimes at sea. On sustainable development, The Gambia underscored the importance of protecting marine resources and supporting fisheries. The Minister noted that “the sustainable management of our shared marine resources is a priority for The Gambia,” advocating for harmonized policies and stronger monitoring systems to safeguard livelihoods and food security. Addressing climate change, he warned of its severe impact on coastal nations, declaring that “climate change and sea-level rise constitute existential threats to many of our coastal communities.” He called for increased climate financing, technical support, and global action to address loss and damage, while promoting solutions such as mangrove restoration and coastal protection. The Minister also emphasized the importance of building an inclusive and sustainable blue economy. “Promoting a sustainable blue economy that benefits all citizens must be central to our collective agenda,” he said, highlighting opportunities in renewable energy, aquaculture, and maritime industries. Reaffirming The Gambia’s commitment to multilateral cooperation, he announced concrete contributions, including hosting capacity-building workshops, participating in maritime surveillance initiatives, and supporting regional climate-resilient infrastructure planning. In closing, the Minister underscored the interconnected nature of regional priorities: “Our collective security, prosperity and environmental stewardship are inextricably linked.