Gambia’s Ambassador to Turkey, Alkali Fanka Conteh, has issued a strongly worded public letter to Foreign Minister Dr. Mamadou Tangara, accusing him of making “misleading” and “divisive” remarks about politically appointed diplomats during a recent media appearance.
The letter, seen by JollofNews, was written in direct response to Dr. Tangara’s comments during a May 16 appearance on the Mansa Kunda town hall program, where he suggested that many political appointees in the foreign service were underqualified, untrainable, and responsible for several diplomatic missteps.
Ambassador Conteh rejected those claims, defending the professionalism and contributions of politically appointed diplomats. He accused the Foreign Minister of unfairly targeting this group while ignoring similar appointments in other areas of government.
“Your description of these individuals as merely beneficiaries of political favoritism, rather than competent professionals, reflects a profound misunderstanding of their qualifications and contributions,” Conteh wrote. “Are we to assume that the diplomatic corps alone is unworthy of respect?”
Conteh acknowledged isolated incidents of misconduct in missions such as Rabat and Havana but argued that these should not serve as justification for broad condemnation. He further criticized the Foreign Ministry’s handling of diplomatic challenges, accusing the leadership of failing to take proactive measures to prevent or resolve internal issues.
“Accountability lies not solely with them,” the ambassador stated, “but also with your ministry’s apparent failure to address challenges as they arise.”
Conteh also pointed to the Ministry’s silence on other high-profile incidents—most notably, the declaration of Gambian diplomats as persona non grata by the U.S. State Department—as a troubling sign of selective accountability.
Beyond the immediate dispute over diplomatic appointments, Conteh’s letter raised deeper concerns about the government’s engagement with the Gambian diaspora. He called attention to longstanding demands from overseas Gambians for voting rights, legislative representation, and greater inclusion in national governance.
“Their cries for active participation in national elections, representation in the National Assembly, and inclusion in cabinet appointments must not fall on deaf ears,” he wrote, describing the lack of meaningful outreach as a “disservice to our nation’s collective progress.”
He urged Dr. Tangara to reconsider his stance and instead work towards a more inclusive, respectful, and forward-looking diplomatic policy.
“The future of our foreign service cannot be shackled by outdated regulations or a lack of strategic engagement from your office,” Conteh stated.
