Africa Can Only Be Developed by Africans - President Jammeh

His Excellency President Yahya Jammeh has again expressed and maintained his belief that the African continent cannot and will never be developed by foreigners.  "The African continent cannot and will never be developed by foreigners," President Jammeh said yesterday at a press conference in State House shortly after a tete-a-tete with his Burundian counterpart Pierre Nkurunziza. President Nkurunziza, who left Banjul yesterday afternoon, was in Banjul on a four-day state visit.

During the tete-a-tete, according to reports monitored over state owned GRTS radio, the two leaders discussed areas of interest namely agriculture and tourism and the need to work together for the benefit of the two countries.

Speaking at the press conference, President Jammeh thanked the Burundian President for honouring his invitation to visit The Gambia.

For his part, President Nkurunziza acknowledged the need for harnessing peace and regional integration and asserted that despite the recent deaths of Burundian peacekeepers in Somalia, he will not relent in his efforts to promote peace and stability in the continent, as Burundi he said, receives similar assistance from other countries during its trying moments.

The Press Conference was attended by Burundi's Minister responsible for Energy, Mines, Good Governance, and Privatisation, as well as senior officials who accompanied the Burundian leader. Cabinet Secretaries of State were also present as well as other senior government officials.