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STATEMENT BY H.E. SERING MODOU NJIE, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & GAMBIANS ABROAD FOR THE AFRICAN UNION PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL (AU PSC) EMERGENCY SESSION (VIRTUAL) ON THE SITUATION IN THE EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC), 29TH DECEMBER 2025   Excellency Mr. Kacou Houadja Leon Adom, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union for December 2025; Excellency Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Excellencies, Honorable Ministers, Members of the Peace and Security Council; Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,   At the outset, Chair, allow me to express my delegation’s appreciation to you for convening this important meeting on the situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Gambia views the current trajectory of insecurity in the Eastern DRC with profound concern. As we approach the end of 2025, the optimism we shared earlier this year is being eclipsed by a resurgence of hostilities that threatens not only the security of the DRC but the stability of the entire Great Lakes Region. The recent reports of the fall of Uvira on December, 10 2025 and the subsequent offensive in South Kivu are deeply distressing. We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe with hundreds of lives being lost in mere weeks and more than 200,000 newly displaced, many seeking refuge in Burundi. We reiterate our unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo. We call on the leadership of M23 and its allies to lay down their arms and immediately cease hostilities. Let the atrocities stop. The people of the region deserve peace and stability.   Excellencies, While we acknowledge the diplomatic efforts undertaken in Washington and Doha earlier this year, it appears that the efficacy of these peace initiatives are being tested on the ground. We urge the signatories to the agreements that emerged from those negotiations to honor their commitments. The Gambia also notes with concern the apparent deadlock in the merged Luanda and Nairobi processes. We believe that while international mediation from partners is highly welcome and deeply appreciated, there is need for all actors and stakeholders to harmonize their interventions and act coherently to complement each other’s efforts and to further reinforce the “African Solutions to African Problems” framework. We urge the AU Commission to re-energize the Joint EAC-SADC mechanism to ensure a harmonized political track that includes all local stakeholders and addresses the root causes of the conflict—including land rights, local governance, and the illicit exploitation of natural resources. Excellencies, My delegation would like to call for the full operationalization of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism as outlined in the April 2025 agreements, with enhanced support from MONUSCO to verify ceasefire violations. With the phased withdrawal of SAMIDRC, a security vacuum must be avoided. We urge the AU to work closely with the UN to ensure that MONUSCO’s mandate remains robust enough to protect civilians during this volatile transition. We urge the parties to immediately open safe humanitarian corridors to allow aid to reach the thousands of displaced persons in South Kivu and reopen vital infrastructure like the Goma and Kavumu airports. Excellencies, This Council must move beyond condemnation to consider targeted sanctions against those non-state actors and foreign actors that continue to violate the ceasefire as well as provide logistical or financial support to rebel groups. The people of the Eastern DRC have endured conflict for three decades. They cannot afford another year of “frozen” peace processes that melt away at the first sign of military opportunism. As I conclude, let me reaffirm The Gambia’s commitment to Pan-African solidarity in our collective quest to amicably end our ongoing conflicts. We stand ready to support all efforts that will lead to silencing of the guns in Eastern DRC and usher in a future of prosperity for the Congolese people. I thank you.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭-𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚–𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟐𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: On Saturday, 20th December 2025 Honourable Sering Modou Njie, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, addressed the 2nd Russia–Africa Ministerial Partnership Forum held in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt, on behalf of the Government and people of The Republic of The Gambia. Speaking under the theme “𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒, 𝐸𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡,” Hon. Njie highlighted the urgent need for resilient, diversified, and inclusive economies, stressing that for small and vulnerable states such as The Gambia, strategic partnerships are essential to overcoming global shocks, climate challenges, and supply-chain disruptions. Guided by Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and The Gambia’s Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (2023–2027), the Minister outlined key priority areas for cooperation: ▪️Agriculture and Food Security – climate-smart agriculture, irrigation, mechanisation, agro-processing, and fertilizer security ▪️Energy Development – renewable energy, power generation, grid modernisation, and off-grid solutions ▪️Trade Facilitation & Industrialisation – logistics, fisheries, agro-processing, light manufacturing, and SME development ▪️Human Capital & Digital Transformation – STEM education, TVET, digital skills, innovation, and cybersecurity The Minister reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to sustainable, technology-driven partnerships focused on skills development, youth empowerment, and regional value chains. He also announced that The Gambia will host the 10th OIC Ministerial Conference on Agriculture and Food Security in Banjul in the first quarter of 2026, extending a warm invitation to all partners to participate. In closing, Hon. Njie emphasized that Africa seeks partnerships of impact, not dependency, and reiterated The Gambia’s readiness to translate commitments into concrete projects that advance inclusive growth and sustainable development.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚–𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟐𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: The Gambia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, H.E. Sering Modou Njie, on 19th December 2025 held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister, of the Russian Federation H.E Sergey Lavrov on the margins of the 2nd Russia–Africa Ministerial Partnership Forum. Foreign Minister Njie conveyed fraternal greetings from H.E. President Adama Barrow to H.E. President Vladimir Putin, and reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding and cordial relations between the two countries. He applauded the warm and friendly ties that have characterized Gambia–Russia relations over the years. Hon. Njie expressed his firm commitment to deepening and expanding bilateral cooperation between The Gambia and the Russian Federation under his leadership as Foreign Minister. He conveyed appreciation to the Government of the Russian Federation for the scholarships awarded to Gambian students, noting their significant contribution to human capital development. The Gambian Foreign Minister further called on the Russian Federation to explore investment opportunities in key sectors of The Gambia’s economy, including but not limited to energy, agriculture, tourism, education, infrastructure, and capacity building. He also warmly welcomed and applauded Russia’s plan to open an Embassy in The Gambia, describing it as a milestone that would further enhance bilateral engagement and cooperation. In response, the Russian Foreign Minister expressed his appreciation for The Gambia’s support on a number of international and multilateral issues, and underscored Russia’s interest in strengthening relations with The Gambia. He noted that the meeting would serve as a catalyst for expanded cooperation between the two countries. Both Ministers exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and discussed avenues for enhanced political, economic, educational, and technical cooperation between the two countries.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚–𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐣𝐚 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟏𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia, Hon. Sering Modou Njie paid a courtesy visit to his counterpart, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, OON, at his office in Abuja. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit. The visit provided an opportunity for both Ministers to reaffirm the longstanding cordial and brotherly relations between The Gambia and Nigeria, and to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, Hon. Njie expressed profound appreciation to the Government and people of Nigeria for their continued technical assistance and capacity-building support, particularly in the areas of defence and security, health, education, and the judiciary. He underscored the important role Nigeria has played in supporting The Gambia’s development efforts and institutional strengthening over the years. Both Ministers reiterated their shared commitment to further deepening and consolidating bilateral relations, guided by mutual respect, solidarity, and shared regional and international priorities. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries and a mutual resolve to continue working closely for the benefit of their peoples and the wider ECOWAS region. 📸 Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria

𝐏𝐒 𝐘𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐍 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐫. 𝐍𝐚𝐣𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐌’𝐣𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟏𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday 8th December held a high-level meeting between Permanent Secretary I, Ambassador Lang Yabou, and the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children (SRSG-VAC), Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, as part of her official visit to The Gambia. Dr. M’jid, who serves as a global advocate for preventing and eliminating violence against children, engaged the Ministry on The Gambia’s progress, challenges, and priorities in strengthening child-protection systems. She commended ongoing national efforts while noting the urgent need to address harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and concerns related to maltreatment in certain educational institutions. She highlighted positive regional models, including Senegal’s reforms of Islamic boarding schools, and committed to sharing briefing documents and agreements to reinforce global cooperation. Ambassador Yabou welcomed SRSG Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid on behalf of the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and underscored the Government’s commitment to safeguarding children, describing them as the nation’s most important asset. He emphasized the need for stronger partnerships, additional resources, and improved implementation of existing child-protection policies and programmes. He reaffirmed full government support for enhanced collaboration with the UN and the commitment of the Gambia to fulfill its international reporting and other obligations. On the issue of local Daaras’ Ambassador Yabou underscored the importance of community engagement, sensitization and funding support to enable them to overcome their challenges and welcomed the offer by SRSG Dr. Najat to share experiences from Senegal’s success story in reforming local Daaras. Delegation members recommended capacity-building for Gambian Missions abroad, including training to support diaspora communities The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen cooperation throughout the SRSG-VAC’s mission and to strengthen national mechanisms that protect all children in The Gambia.