Ya Awa Touray

𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐥, 𝟐𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Ambassador Lang Yabou, today received the Commonwealth Pre-Election Assessment Mission (PEAM) during a consultation meeting held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Banjul. The Mission is visiting The Gambia from 18th to 25th July 2026 to assess the prevailing electoral environment and determine the readiness for the deployment of a Commonwealth Observer Group for The Gambia’s General Elections scheduled for 5th December 2026. During the visit, the delegation will also provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to strengthen electoral management. The Commonwealth delegation is led by Mrs. Lindiwe Malaleka, Adviser on Electoral Support, and comprises Ms. Musu Kaikai, Political Officer (Africa); and Mrs. Rebecca Scott, Operations Officer, Communications Division. Welcoming the delegation, Ambassador Yabou underscored the Government of The Gambia’s commitment to democratic governance, credible elections and continued engagement with international partners in strengthening democratic institutions. He reaffirmed the strong and longstanding relationship between The Gambia and the Commonwealth Secretariat, which has continued to deepen since the country’s readmission to the Commonwealth. Leading the discussions, Mrs. Malaleka explained that the visit forms part of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s standard pre-election engagement with member states ahead of national elections. She briefed the Ministry on the mandate and methodology of the Pre-Election Assessment Mission, noting that its purpose is to assess the prevailing political and electoral environment, engage with a broad range of national stakeholders, and determine whether the conditions exist for the deployment of a Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) for the December 2026 General Elections. She further explained that, during its visit, the Mission will meet with Government institutions, the Independent Electoral Commission, civil society organizations, development partners and other key stakeholders to assess the electoral environment, ascertain the level of national support for the possible deployment of a Commonwealth Observer Group, and ensure that any observer mission constituted by the Commonwealth Secretary-General would be able to undertake its mandate independently without restriction. Mrs. Malaleka also highlighted that the Mission would use the opportunity to explain the role and methodology of a Commonwealth Observer Group to national stakeholders, make preliminary organizational preparations for a possible observer deployment, assess additional technical assistance needs, and deliver specialized capacity-building support to the Independent Electoral Commission to further strengthen electoral administration ahead of the December polls. Responding on behalf of the Government, Ambassador Yabou welcomed the Commonwealth’s continued support for The Gambia’s democratic journey and electoral institutions. He assured the delegation of the Government’s full cooperation and support throughout the Mission’s stay and reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to conducting peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive elections in accordance with its Constitution, national laws and international democratic principles. The meeting reflects the close partnership between The Gambia and the Commonwealth Secretariat in promoting democracy, good governance, the rule of law and credible electoral processes, as the country continues preparations for the 2026 Elections.

Newsletter 2025 Edition

𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐥, 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Government of the Republic of The Gambia and the Sovereign Order of Malta have signed a Cooperation Agreement aimed at strengthening collaboration in humanitarian assistance, healthcare, food security, disaster risk reduction, volunteerism, and other areas of mutual interest. The Agreement was signed on 10th July 2026 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad in Banjul by the Hon. Minister Sering Modou Njie and His Excellency Ambassador Domenico Giani. Also present were the Permanent Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service, Ambassador Lang Yabou; the Director of European Affairs, Mrs. Mariam Khan Jallow; and officials from both sides. In his remarks, Honourable Sering Modou Njie described the signing of the Agreement as “a significant step in the evolving relationship between the Republic of The Gambia and the Sovereign Order of Malta.” He noted that the Agreement reflects a shared commitment to serving people, strengthening communities, and addressing practical human needs. The Minister emphasised that the Government of The Gambia values partnerships that are respectful, purposeful, and aligned with the country’s national development priorities, highlighting healthcare, humanitarian response, food security, volunteerism, and disaster risk reduction as key areas of cooperation. He also commended the Sovereign Order of Malta for its longstanding humanitarian service to vulnerable populations worldwide and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to implementing the Agreement. His Excellency Ambassador Domenico Giani thanked the Honourable Minister and the Government of The Gambia for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him and his delegation. He welcomed the signing of the Agreement as an important milestone in strengthening relations between the Sovereign Order of Malta and The Gambia and reaffirmed the Order’s commitment to working closely with the Government in advancing humanitarian and development initiatives, particularly in healthcare, humanitarian assistance, and community resilience. The ceremony concluded with the exchange of the Cooperation Agreement.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad convened the quarterly meeting of the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration (NCM) at the Bakadaji Hotel, bringing together representatives from government ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, academia, and other key stakeholders. Delivering the opening remarks, Ambassador Lang Yabou, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, welcomed participants and commended their continued commitment to strengthening migration governance in The Gambia through dialogue, coordination, and partnership. He described the NCM as the Government’s principal platform for coordinating migration governance, promoting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach by fostering meaningful collaboration among government institutions, civil society, development partners, academia, and diaspora stakeholders. Ambassador Yabou also reflected on The Gambia’s recent participation in the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), describing it as an important opportunity to showcase the country’s progress in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). He commended the Technical Working Group Leads and NCM members for their sustained collaboration and expressed appreciation to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for its continued technical and financial support, describing the Organization as a trusted partner in strengthening national migration governance. Delivering a statement on behalf of IOM, Mr. George Andrews, National Programme Officer for Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion, reaffirmed the Organization’s appreciation for the Ministry’s leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing migration governance in The Gambia. He noted that the quarterly meeting provides an important opportunity to reflect on the outcomes of the IMRF, review progress achieved by the Thematic Working Groups, and identify priorities for the months ahead. He also welcomed discussions on the review of the NCM structure, the proposed Cabinet Paper, and the Draft Gender-Responsive GCM Implementation Plan. The meeting brought together representatives from government institutions, security services, regional administration bodies, development partners, academia, and civil society organizations, underscoring The Gambia’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to migration governance. The two-day meeting will continue with technical sessions focusing on national migration priorities, capacity needs assessments, and discussions on the way forward to further strengthen the institutional framework of the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, in partnership with the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), has conducted a two-day training programme on the African Human Rights System aimed at strengthening the capacity of Gambian diplomats to effectively engage with regional and international human rights mechanisms. Held from 7th–8th July 2026, the training brought together sixteen (16) diplomats from the Ministry, particularly officers engaged in multilateral affairs, treaty reporting and international cooperation. The programme focused on enhancing participants’ understanding of the African and ECOWAS human rights systems, The Gambia’s treaty obligations and reporting responsibilities, while equipping them with practical skills to engage in treaty reporting, periodic review processes and interactions with relevant human rights mechanisms. The programme was officially opened on 7th July 2026 by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Hon. Sering Modou Njie. Also in attendance were the Director of Administration and Finance, Mr. Swaibou Barry, and the Director of African Affairs, Ambassador Lamin Faati. In his opening remarks, the Minister underscored the close relationship between diplomacy and human rights, reaffirming The Gambia’s commitment to promoting democracy, the rule of law and human rights at the continental and international levels. He highlighted the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, commonly known as the Banjul Charter, as the cornerstone of the African Human Rights System and described it as a significant contribution to the development of international human rights law. The Minister further noted that The Gambia continues to demonstrate commitment to human rights through the ratification and domestication of key regional instruments. He encouraged participants to apply the knowledge acquired from the training to enhance the country’s engagement within regional and international human rights mechanisms. Dr. Musa Kika, Executive Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), also delivered opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of strengthening institutional capacity to support effective engagement with the African human rights system. He highlighted the value of collaboration between IHRDA and national institutions in advancing awareness, implementation and compliance with regional human rights commitments. The training concluded on 8th July 2026 with closing remarks by the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Lang Yabou, who described human rights as one of the defining pillars of The Gambia’s foreign policy. He emphasized that peace, development and human rights are inseparable and encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained to further strengthen the country’s engagement with regional and international human rights frameworks. Ambassador Yabou also highlighted The Gambia’s longstanding contribution to regional peace, democracy and human rights, noting that continued investment in the professional development of the Foreign Service remains essential to advancing the country’s foreign policy objectives. The training forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, improve coordination on international human rights obligations and reinforce The Gambia’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights across Africa.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia, Hon. Sering Modou Njie, today held a cordial telephone conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Hakan Fidan. The discussion reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and excellent bilateral relations between The Gambia and Türkiye and underscored the shared commitment of both Governments to further deepen cooperation across areas of mutual interest. The two Ministers exchanged views on key bilateral matters and discussed practical measures to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, education, defence, capacity building, and technical cooperation. They also reiterated their commitment to enhancing collaboration through existing bilateral mechanisms and sustained high-level engagement. The conversation further focused on matters relating to Gambian nationals residing in Türkiye. Both Ministers discussed issues affecting the welfare and well-being of Gambians in Türkiye and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between the two Governments to address consular, and other matters of mutual interest. The Honourable Minister expressed appreciation for the warm and enduring relations between The Gambia and Türkiye and conveyed the greetings and best wishes of His Excellency President Adama Barrow to His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Both Ministers agreed to maintain close consultations on bilateral, regional, and international issues of common concern and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening the enduring partnership and friendship between The Gambia and Türkiye.

BANJUL, 30th June 2026: The Republic of The Gambia and the Republic of Indonesia on 30th June 2026 reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations following the successful conclusion of the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) of the Second Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), held in Kololi. The Meeting brought together senior government officials from both countries to review progress in bilateral relations and identify new opportunities for cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including diplomacy, trade and investment, agriculture and food security, education and research, tourism, migration governance, parliamentary cooperation, and technical capacity-building. Officially opening the Session, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Ambassador Lang Yabou, welcomed the Indonesian delegation on behalf of the Government of The Gambia. He described the Joint Commission as an important milestone in the longstanding relationship between the two countries, which have enjoyed cordial diplomatic relations since 1982. Ambassador Yabou expressed The Gambia’s appreciation for Indonesia’s continued support through technical cooperation programmes, scholarships, agricultural assistance, human resource development initiatives and capacity-building programmes. He noted that the Joint Commission provides an opportunity to review existing cooperation while charting a new roadmap for collaboration in areas of mutual interest. He reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to ensuring that the deliberations produce practical and measurable outcomes that contribute to sustainable development and the welfare of both peoples. Leading the Indonesian delegation, the Director of African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Ms. Dewi Justicia Meidiwaty, reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with The Gambia. She highlighted the growth in bilateral trade, the successful revitalisation of the Agricultural Rural Farmer Training Centre (ARFTC) in Jenoi, and Indonesia’s continued investment in human resource development through scholarship programmes and technical cooperation. She also underscored the importance of finalising the Memorandum of Understanding on the General Framework of Cooperation to expand collaboration into new areas, including political consultations, parliamentary cooperation, education, research and sustainable tourism. Following a day of constructive deliberations, both delegations concluded the Senior Officials’ Meeting with the signing of the Agreed Minutes and the Memorandum of Understanding on the General Framework of Cooperation, reaffirming their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation. Delivering the closing remarks, Ambassador Lang Yabou commended both delegations for the spirit of openness, mutual respect and cooperation that characterised the discussions. He welcomed the substantive outcomes of the Meeting and emphasized the importance of translating the commitments reached into concrete programmes and measurable results that will directly benefit the peoples of The Gambia and Indonesia. He further called for continued consultations through diplomatic channels and technical working arrangements to ensure the effective implementation of the decisions contained in the Agreed Minutes and Joint Communiqué. Earlier in the evening, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Hon. Sering Modou Njie, received the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir, upon his arrival at the Banjul International Airport ahead of the Ministerial Session of the Second Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, scheduled for 1st July 2026. The Ministerial Session is expected to build on the outcomes of the Senior Officials’ Meeting and further consolidate the enduring partnership between The Gambia and the Republic of Indonesia through enhanced cooperation in areas of shared priority.