(JollofNews) – President Adama Barrow of the Gambia Tuesday morning received a special envoy from his Senegalese counterpart, President Macky Sall.
Senegalese Foreign Minister Sidiki Kaba delivered a special message to President Barrow, reiterating President Sall’s commitment to the spirit of friendliness and good neighborliness between the Gambia and Senegal.
The message also included a formal introduction of Foreign Minister Kaba to the Gambian leader. The former Justice minister was appointed Foreign Minister last month.
Mr Kaba and President Barrow discussed a series of bilateral issues to further cement the friendly ties between the two countries. President Barrow expressed gratitude to the Senegalese leader and his people for their contribution in making the change and freedom possible in the New Gambia. He commended the positive role President Sall continues to play in building confidence and strengthening their cordial relationship.
President Barrow said he and his Senegalese counterpart would continue to consult one another and engage in dialogue over issues. He called on both countries to work towards being a model of regional integration by facilitating free trade across their borders.
In March this year, the Gambia and Senegal signed several cooperation agreements to promote trade, fisheries, peace and security for the mutual benefit of the two Gambian and Senegalese people.
Presenting a piece of African art to President Barrow, Minister Kaba said the choice of artwork was a representation of the freedom Mr Barrow brought to the people of the Gambia, and the pride that Africa derived from such achievement.
Gambian Foreign Minister Ousainou Darbo, the Senegalese Ambassador to the Gambia, Salieu Ndiaye and other senior officials from the Gambia and Senegal attended the meeting.
Mr Sidiki Kaba is a human rights activist. He has held several ministerial portfolios before his recent appointment as Foreign Affairs Minister. With his legal background, he is known to have committed his career to promote women and political rights, as well as freedom of the press in Senegal and beyond.
Way to go! We are ONE nation under God, INDIVISIBLE.
God Bless The Gambia.
I think his statement about the immense powers of the executive should be an area worth looking at in any new Constitution. The workability of the separation of powers is seriously undermined by the concentration of powers in one office holder, being the President.
Oops, meant for the story about Mr Graham.
True, however the problem here is a rogue who stole the presidency, bullied and threatened subordinates and perpetrated significant crimes on an entire nation. Yahya operated with impunity with help from others. We must change our binding document but changing the mindset of our brothers and sisters is equally important. Notice all these officials could have protested and stopped Yahya at any time, but they chose not to, indeed they aided him in his crimes.
Like most Gambians, I am a Gambian and have families in the Senegal. My Caveat and Concern about the nature of the Bi-lateral Relationship between the Gambia and Senegal is because the Bi-lateral Relationship appears and seems to be one of a Vasal State, the Gambia and its Lord, Senegal. It seems to me that the Current Gambian Government is either unable, unwilling or overwhelmed and outsmarted at every turn and move by our brotherly and sisterly neighbor to our North and South, Senegal. So far, all signs of the two Countries’ Bi-lateral Relationship seem to be Identified, Dictated, Directed and more beneficial to the Senegalese. The Senegalese were supposed to help Mitigate the State of Emergency of Electricity Supply to the Gambia. In the early Summer months, June or July 2017, there was jubilation about Senegal helping the Gambia with Electricity. We are now in October, yet the Burden of lack of Electricity for the Gambian on the Streets and Homes, and Businesses have not changed in any Significant Relief Trend. Some may say it has gotten worst. Fishing and Fisheries and the availability of Fish in the Gambia is supposed to be mitigated with a Bi-lateral Agreement that was Signed with Senegal allowing the Senegalese Access to Gambian Fishing Waters. Given that the details of the Bi-lateral Agreements like the Assests Declaration Documents have not been Released to the Public, the Potential disadvantages and unintended consequences of the Agreements cannot be Vetted nor Debated. Does the Bi-lateral Agreements signed between the Gambia and Senegal Obligate the Gambia to Honor Third Party Bi-lateral and Multi-lateral Agreements that Senegal Signed with those Third Party Countries. For example, does Senegal’s Bi-lateral Agreement with China, granting China access to Senegalese Fishing Waters? What else and how does that impact the Gambia and Gambians’ Fish Stock and availability of Fish to the avarage Gambian who gets his or her Protein intake from Fish? In the Gambia of today, Security Apparatus is in the hands of the Senegalese with the ECOMIG FORCES as a Cover and the Gambian Security Officials Sub-ordinated to their “Lords” in Dakar, Senegal. I am not a Critic of the arrangement, but I am concerned that the “Marriage” may be too One sided and may be more Productive and Beneficial to Senegal than Gambia is getting from it. Where a Lord provides “Security” to the Vasal State, the Vasal State serves the interest and needs of the Lord in return for the “Security”. The elephant in the Cabinet is, how and when will the Vasal State begin to make tangible and verifiable Steps to gain its Footing and Independence? What is the cost of the Vasal-Lord Relationship. The drip, drip, motions and narratives of the alleged “Reform of the Security Apparatus and Forces” needs to be more Transparent and not appear or seem to be “Selective” in nature. To Maintain a Professional Security Apparatus and Forces for the Gambia, the Gambia needs to have a Diverse, Integrated accross the Ethnic Group Security Apparatus and Forces that are Professional, Patriotic and Self-less. Failure to do so only invites Instability and Insecurity in the Long Term. Without a Formal Referendum for a Senegambia Confederation or Unity, the Gambians and their Government must always act as the Custodian and Caretakers of the Gambia First and all else Second. Allowing themselves to be manipulated by any Foreign Entity and as a result abridge or deliver the Gambian National Pie to a given entity is Potentially Treasonous or at the least Dereliction of Duty and Responsibility. We cannot wish Senegal away, nor can Senegal do likewise. Therefore, the Gambia and Senegalese Authorities and their Citizens must have a Real Transparent and Accountable Bi-lateral Agreements Signed between the two Brother and Sister Countries with the Citizenry well informed and Participants in the whole Enterprise. Failure breeds Suspicion, which breeds Contempt and Contempt leads to Civil Disobedience. Have a Transparent Bi-lateral Relationship and Agreements with Senegal and any other Country.
I could not agree more Sidi; Could it be that Gambia is in such an unsolvable economic mess that one cheap solution would be to enjoin with Senegal ? This talk of integration is a road that is in fact a cul de sac. France would be pleased I’m sure.
Perhaps to learn French would solve the language barrier. One hopes the matter would be solved by a referendum ? Goodbye Gambia hello Senegambia. So who’s flag will rise over The Statehouse ? Viva La France. or viva Las Vegas.?
Thank you Mike Scales. I am afraid the Gambia and Gambians may be “Hoodwinked” and left out dry as another Province of Northern Senegal to be used as a Subsidiary Resource Base for Senegal. I pray and hope not. But I sense Danger for my Beloveth Gambia in the Horizon.