President Oligui Nguema was hosted by President Adama Barrow at the invitation of the Gambian government. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation including ministers, senior officials, and members of the Gabonese business community.
The visit marked the first State Visit by a Gabonese President to The Gambia in recent years and was described by both leaders as “an important milestone” in bilateral relations.
During formal talks at State House, Banjul, the two Heads of State reviewed the existing cooperation framework and agreed to broaden it.
- A General Cooperation Agreement and the establishment of a Joint Commission to monitor cooperation in political, economic, social, cultural, and technical fields.
- An agreement on reciprocal visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports to facilitate official travel between Banjul and Libreville.
- A Memorandum of Understanding on Political and Diplomatic Consultations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs to enhance regular dialogue and high-level visits.
Both leaders also agreed to continue negotiations on new bilateral agreements in areas such as trade, investment, agriculture, health, education, and infrastructure “with real benefits for their peoples.”
President Barrow and President Oligui Nguema emphasized the need to increase exchanges in culture, sports, and tourism to consolidate friendship between Gambians and Gabonese.
They reaffirmed their commitment to Pan-African solidarity, multilateralism, and South-South cooperation as tools for sustainable development and shared prosperity on the continent. Regional peace, security, and stability in Africa also featured prominently in their discussions.
Beyond the talks, President Oligui Nguema toured several national institutions to get insight into The Gambia’s development priorities. His itinerary included the National Laboratory for Food and Drug Quality Control in Brusubi, the Faraba Campus of the University of The Gambia, the National Emergency Treatment Center in Farato, and the Kachikally Crocodile Pool in Bakau.
In honour of the visiting delegation, President Barrow hosted a state banquet at State House.
At the end of the visit, President Oligui Nguema expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation. He extended an invitation to President Barrow for a reciprocal State Visit to Gabon, which President Barrow “gratefully accepted.”
The Joint Communiqué was signed in Banjul by Hon. Dawda A. Jallow, Attorney General and Minister of Justice overseeing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Ms Marie-Édith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbénény, Gabon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
Officials say the agreements signed during the visit are expected to lay the groundwork for increased trade and diplomatic engagement between the two West and Central African nations.
