French Naval vessel docked at Banjul Port

A French naval vessel ship on Saturday morning docked at the Banjul seaport with some French naval officials onboard the vessel.

Senior Gambian navy officers and soldiers of the Gambia Armed Forces, led by the Navy Commodore Madani Senghore and Army Public Relations Officer Pierre Beyai met them on arrival at the Banjul seaport.

Speaking to pressmen shortly after a brief meeting with the head of the French naval team, Commodore Madani Senghore commended President Yahya Jammeh for approving the visit by the French navy to The Gambia.

According to Commodore Senghore, the Navy has three roles to play namely military, policing and diplomatic roles. Commodore Madani Senghore said the visiting French naval team is in the country to test some of their equipment and also do some activities.

He added that the visit of the French naval team will further serve to strengthen the ties between the two countries, while expressing hope that Gambian navy officials will also make similar visits to France. "During the visit, the two countries will be able to benefit from each other," he said.

Commodore Madani Senghore revealed that during their five-day stay in the country, the visiting French naval officials will also pay a courtesy call on the Permanent Secretary, at the Ministry of Defense, Chief of Defense Staff of the Armed Forces of The Gambia and also a visit to the naval command where they will be able to bring in some of their technicians to brief them on some of the constraints confronting the Gambian navy. He further stated that there will be a football match between the visiting French naval officials and their counterparts at the Serrekunda West Mini-stadium.

Commodore Senghore also added that Gambian navy officials will visit the French naval vessel at the seaport to see how the French navy operates and shares with them their experiences about Gambian waters.