Gambia gov’t calls for dialogue in Middle East conflict

The Gambia government has issued a statement calling for dialogue and restraint in the ongoing conflict between Qatar and Saudi Arabia as well as the Gulf states.

“The Government and people of The Gambia wishes to call on all sides to the Gulf conflict to show restraint and to privilege dialogue and a negotiating settlement so as to end a crisis whose elongation can only have far-reaching dire consequences,” the statement said.

Below we publish the full version of the statement, released through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gambians Abroad and International Cooperation.

SEVERENCE OF DIPLOMATIC TIES BETWEEN THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (GCC) AND QATAR

Following the announcement on 5 June 2017 that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states plus Yemen, Egypt, etc. had severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, the Government and people of The Gambia and the Muslim Ummah were to say the least, taken aback by the implication and no doubt worrisome nature of the situation and attendant regrettable consequences should restraint not prevail.

For, at a time when the Middle East and the Gulf region are mired in interminable conflict, in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Iran, Bahrain, countries in which hydra-headed terrorism continues to inflict a tale of untold misery, death and destruction on the peoples of the area, the Government of The Gambia wishes to call on all sides to the Gulf conflict to show restraint and to privilege dialogue and a negotiating settlement so as to end a crisis whose elongation can only have far-reaching dire consequences for an entire region, more so as it came like a Tsunami at the very advent of the holy month of Ramadan – a month of peace, sacrifice, reflection and especially for forgiveness in Islam.

And, at a time when our noble religion is being trampled upon, with scorn and disdain in some quarters, the Ummah must be seen to be resolutely closing ranks in defense of their brothers of the region who are asking for nothing more than to be allowed to continue to live in peace, harmony and cooperation in Islamic brotherliness.

The Republic of The Gambia therefore calls on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the UN, the OIC, the Arab League and all men and women of people goodwill to conjugate efforts to bring about a speedy resolution to the impasse between Qatar and her neighbours so that normalcy could once again reign in the region.