Speaking to the waiting press, Gambia’s Foreign Minister Njie first extended warm welcome to the visiting Senegalese minister on behalf of His Excellency the President, the government and the people of the Republic of The Gambia.
“Today is a very important day for all of us, The Gambia and the Republic of Senegal. Having my brother to undertake an official visit having assumed office barely a month ago, and today he has decided to conduct his first engagement in The Gambia. That is so laudable and I really want to express our profound appreciation and thanks to His Excellency, my brother.”
Minister Njie disclosed that in the morning they had a very fruitful engagement, bilateral meeting in his office and all that was discussed had to do with ways of reinforcing and enhancing “our bilateral relations between the two countries”.
The Gambia and Senegal, he added, continue to enjoy cordial and excellent bilateral relations, further expressing gratitude to Senegal for the support the sister country has been providing to The Gambia.
“My brother and I have already discussed issues that have to do with how we can collaborate closely. We recalled also during the last Presidential Council Meeting held in Banjul where our two Heads of State have also assigned us as ministers of Foreign Affairs and also our other colleagues from other sectors, the outcome of that meeting was so laudable that the institutions under the authorities of both countries decided to work from that moment,” Minister Njie said.
Thus, the Banjul visit by his counterpart from Senegal, he said, is a sign of commitment to that very important assignment given to them by their two leaders.
“But I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate him for the well-deserved appointment,” Minister Njie said. “I think it's a great opportunity for Gambia too to work with him to consolidate and also to concretize the relationship that happily exists between our two countries.”
To that end, Minister Njie also thanked His Excellency the High Commissioner and members of his staff for the great work that they’ve been doing in enhancing these bilateral relations.
Later in the day, Minister Njie hinted that they would also call on His Excellency, the Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, Momodou B.S. Jallow at his office at State House.
He spoke of his resolve to continue working hard to realise their plans.
For his part, Cheikh Niang, Minister for African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad of the Republic of Senegal, said: “This is not a surprise to me at all because it is as if I am coming home. The Gambia is home to me as if Senegal is home to you.”
He said further: “When I took function as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he (President Faye) told me that in my roadmap The Gambia is to be at the centre. That's why when we met in New York I did my very best to meet you and I met you twice.”
Minister Niang spoke about the quality of ties that binds the two countries, adding that it was so strong that the strength is easily noticeable.
“I've been very happy to see that you have the same level of commitment of engagement to making sure that our cooperation is strengthened more and more. So, Mr Minister, let me thank you for that. Let me also thank you for your personal commitment.”
The Senegalese Minister acknowledged that The Gambia and Senegal are two states, but one nation, reminding that it is ‘Senegambia nation.’
Importantly, he said it's very difficult to find a Gambian who didn’t have a Senegalese relative and vice versa.
“So, our role as minister of Foreign Affairs is to make sure that these links, these relations are strengthened day-after-day. And we are very glad to see the level of equality in our relationship. And I'm glad that we have the same commitment to make them stronger.”
It would be recalled that in the last Presidential Council Meeting held in Banjul and presided over by the two Heads of State, important resolutions were reached that cut across wide spectrum.
The cooperation includes agriculture, defence and security, trade and investment, and fisheries.
