National News

𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐚, 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Government of the Republic of The Gambia is pleased to announce the election of Dr. Satang Nabaneh as a Member of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). Dr. Nabaneh secured a total of 43 votes during elections held at the 48th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopiatoday 11th February 2026. Dr. Nabaneh’s election marks a significant achievement for The Gambia and reflects the confidence of Member States in her distinguished record as a legal scholar, human rights expert, and advocate for the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children across Africa. With extensive experience in child rights, gender equality, legal reform, and the African human rights system, Dr. Nabaneh brings to the Committee a wealth of expertise, scholarship, and practical engagement at national, regional, and international levels. Her longstanding contributions to advancing child protection frameworks and strengthening normative standards within the African Union system have been widely recognized. The Government of The Gambia expresses its profound gratitude to Member States of the African Union for their support and trust. This election reaffirms The Gambia’s unwavering commitment to the promotion and protection of children’s rights and its continued engagement in advancing the objectives of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The Government congratulates Dr. Nabaneh on this well-deserved achievement, assures her of its continuous support and wishes her every success in the discharge of her mandate. 𝐄𝐍𝐃

BANJUL,6th February: The Republic of The Gambia has assumed leadership roles within the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), following a handing-over ceremony held in hybrid format on 2 February 2026 at the OACPS Headquarters in Brussels. In this context, His Excellency Ambassador Pa Musa Jobarteh, Ambassador of the Republic of The Gambia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, assumed the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ambassadors (COA) from His Excellency Ambassador Moses Kouni Mose, Ambassador of Solomon Islands to the Kingdom of Belgium. The Gambia will hold the Chairmanship for a six-month period, ending on 31 July 2026. The Committee of Ambassadors is a principal organ of the OACPS, responsible for representing Member States, overseeing the implementation of decisions of the Council of Ministers, and providing strategic guidance to the Secretariat. In his capacity as Chair, Ambassador Jobarteh will play a central role in advancing consensus among Member States and strengthening the effectiveness of the Organisation. At the ministerial level, Honourable Seedy K. M. Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of The Gambia, also assumed the Presidency of the OACPS Council of Ministers from Honourable Peter Shanel Agovaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Solomon Islands. In many Member States, including The Gambia, the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs serves as the designated minister responsible for OACPS–European Union development cooperation. The Council of Ministers is responsible for implementing the policy guidelines and decisions adopted by the Summit of Heads of State and Government. Founded in 1975, the OACPS is an international organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable development and advancing the economic, social, and political well-being of its peoples. The Organisation comprises seventy-nine (79) Member States, including forty-eight (48) from sub-Saharan Africa, sixteen (16) from the Caribbean, and fifteen (15) from the Pacific region. The governance structure of the OACPS includes: The Summit of Heads of State and Government; The Council of Ministers; The Committee of Ambassadors; The Secretariat; and The Joint Parliamentary Assembly, which serves as a political oversight body. The 11th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the OACPS is scheduled to take place in Equatorial Guinea from 27 to 29 March 2026, with confirmations of participation already received from several Heads of State and senior government officials. During The Gambia’s tenure, particular emphasis will be placed on: Supporting governance reforms and strengthening the institutional stability of the OACPS; Reinforcing confidence among Member States in the Organisation as a pillar of multilateralism; Advancing preparations for the successful convening of the 11th OACPS Summit in Equatorial Guinea; Supporting the follow-up, implementation, and operationalisation of the Samoa Agreement, including engagement with the European Union; and Ensuring effective oversight of the implementation of approved programmes and budgets.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Government of the Republic of The Gambia wishes to inform all qualified Gambian nationals residing in the Kingdom of Spain about the Spanish Government’s newly announced amnesty programme, which aims to regularise the status of approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants currently living in Spain. This initiative presents an important opportunity for eligible Gambians to legalise their stay, access lawful employment, and fully integrate into Spanish society. In this regard, the Government of The Gambia assures all concerned Gambian nationals that it stands ready to provide the necessary documentation and consular support required to facilitate their regularisation and integration process in Spain. The Government further calls on all Gambians, wherever they may be, to continue to remain law-abiding, respect the laws of their host countries, and serve as good ambassadors of The Gambia. Gambians are also encouraged to continue contributing positively to national development both at home and in the diaspora. The Government of The Gambia takes this opportunity to express its sincere appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of Spain for this forward-looking initiative, which represents a true win-win outcome for migrants, host communities, and countries of origin alike. 𝐄𝐍𝐃

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Gambia has been elected by consensus as Vice Chair on the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against humanity during the Plenary Session held on 27th January 2026 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Following The Gambia’s endorsement by the African Group and with the strategic vision and leadership of H.E Ambassador Lamin Dibba, Ms. Marang Sanyang, Counsellor and Legal Advisor, has been unanimously elected as Vice Chair on the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee of the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against humanity. The prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity stands at the core of the international community’s commitment to combat impunities and ensure greater legal certainty for the gravest crimes of immense concern under international law. The formal processes of this Preparatory Committee are aimed at addressing a long-standing gap in the international legal framework. While genocide and war crimes are governed by dedicated treaty regimes, crimes against humanity despite their central place in international criminal law remain without a universal convention addressing prevention, punishment, and inter-State cooperation. Cognizant of the above, the Preparatory Committee is mandated to facilitate consultations, further engage with the International Law Commission’s draft articles and enable Governments to develop proposals for textual amendment relating to the diplomatic Conference scheduled for 2028 and 2029. As a member of the Bureau of this important process, The Gambia intends to explore possibilities for an effective elaborate, universal and legally binding Convention that advances international law, close the impunity gaps and strengthen international efforts towards supporting domestic capacity, prevention and national ownership while reaffirming commitments for an inclusive, transparent and constructive engagement throughout the process.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟐𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, H.E. Sering Modou Njie, on Tuesday, 27th January 2026, received the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the United States Embassy in Banjul, H.E. Ambassador Eugene S. Young, for a cordial and constructive meeting aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between The Gambia and the United States of America. The discussions underscored the long-standing partnership between the two countries and their shared commitment to peace, security, development, and mutual respect. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Young expressed appreciation to The Gambia for its contribution to international peace and security, particularly its decision to deploy personnel to the United Nations–mandated mission in Haiti. He also conveyed condolences on the recent tragic loss of lives involving migrants and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to address irregular migration through public sensitisation and lawful migration pathways. Both sides discussed current U.S. visa policies, including visa bonds and restrictions, and stressed the importance of Gambian nationals in the United States complying with visa conditions and immigration laws. In response, the Honourable Minister reaffirmed the Government of The Gambia’s commitment to working closely with the United States, while underscoring the need for continued public awareness and cooperation on migration-related matters. The Honourable Minister also expressed appreciation for U.S. support to The Gambia’s development agenda, noting cooperation in key areas such as health, education, and institutional capacity-building. The U.S. Embassy highlighted the breadth of its support, including school feeding programmes, health interventions, technical assistance to government institutions, and the continued presence of the U.S. Peace Corps in The Gambia. Discussions further covered visa-related matters, with both parties agreeing on the importance of open communication and mutual understanding, as well as sustained public education on immigration compliance. On regional and international cooperation, particularly in relation to United Nations peacekeeping missions, the Honourable Minister thanked the United States for its support to The Gambia’s participation in international peace efforts. He also called for continued collaboration in capacity-building, training of Gambian security forces, and support in critical operational enablers to ensure effective participation in such missions. The meeting also touched on investment, digital connectivity, and private sector engagement, with both sides acknowledging the importance of creating an enabling environment for international partnerships and sustainable economic growth. In concluding, both the Honourable Minister and the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires reaffirmed their commitment to sustained dialogue and engagement, emphasizing that continued cooperation and mutual respect remain central to the strong and friendly relations between The Gambia and the United States.

𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐮 𝐍𝐣𝐢𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚-𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad, H.E. Sering Modou Njie, received a high-level delegation of Chinese investors in his office on Monday 29th December 2025. The visit comes as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the strong bilateral relations between The Gambia and the People’s Republic of China, grounded in mutual respect, solidarity, and a shared commitment to economic development. The delegation explored concrete business and investment opportunities across priority sectors aligned with The Gambia’s national development strategy and many of them have expressed strong interest in The Gambia. The delegation aims to finalize and formalize multiple initiatives before departing, with a signing ceremony to be witnessed by relevant government institutions to ensure smooth and timely implementation. This visit underscores the deepening partnership between The Gambia and China and marks a significant step forward in fostering economic growth, foreign investment, and South–South cooperation.