The Government of The Gambia has strongly denied allegations that it issued 20,000 diplomatic passports to relatives and former ministers of Senegal’s ex-President Macky Sall.
In a press release issued on Friday, the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services described the claims reportedly made by a Senegalese journalist and politician as “entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate attempt to sow misunderstanding and create unwarranted tension between the two brotherly nations.”
The government emphasised that the issuance of diplomatic passports in The Gambia follows established procedures designed to ensure transparency and accountability. These passports, according to the ministry, are reserved for Gambian diplomats, their spouses, senior government officials, and nationals serving in international organisations or representing The Gambia’s interests abroad.
“The Government further clarifies that neither former President Macky Sall nor any member of his family has ever requested, nor have they been issued, any Gambian passport of any category,” the statement said.
Authorities also dismissed insinuations that The Gambia was complicit in the recent departure of certain Senegalese nationals from their country, calling such suggestions “entirely unfounded and deeply concerning.” The government urged the public to ignore the “baseless allegations” and rely only on verified information from official channels.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, working closely with the Ministry of Interior and the Gambia Immigration Department, reaffirmed that stringent measures remain in place to prevent the misuse or fraudulent acquisition of Gambian passports.
