Gambia, Azerbaijan hold first political consultations to strengthen ties

At the event, Ambassador Lang Yabou, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of President Adama Barrow and Minister for Foreign Affairs Serign Modou Njie, welcomed the visiting delegation to the Smiling Coast of Africa.

He talked about the three-decade-long relationship between the two countries, grounded in mutual trust, solidarity, and friendship.

“This political consultation offers an important opportunity to further strengthen our ties and develop practical cooperation in areas of mutual benefit,” Ambassador Yabou said. 

He spoke about Azerbaijan’s support to the Gambia through scholarships and human capital development initiatives. “We look forward to fruitful discussions that will deepen our partnership and strengthen South-South cooperation,” he added.

Leading the Azerbaijani delegation, H.E. Mr. Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, expressed gratitude for the warm welcome.

“We are honoured to be in your beautiful capital. This first round of political consultations will serve the interests of our people, reinforce our brotherhood, and pave the way for future collaborations,” he said.

Rafiyev used the platform to talk about existing opportunities geared towards expanding cooperation in economic and humanitarian sectors.

He also spoke about Azerbaijan’s restored territorial integrity in 2023 as a milestone shaping its new foreign policy, further highlighting Gambia’s role as current chair of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit, with Azerbaijan set to assume the chairmanship next year.

Further, this consultation provides a platform for both countries to explore joint initiatives, exchange views on global challenges, and reinforce commitments to multilateralism amid a shifting international political landscape.

Officials from both sides, including directors and counselors are keenly participating in discussions designed to produce actionable outcomes for long-term cooperation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation to the media for covering this significant diplomatic engagement, underscoring the importance of transparent reporting on initiatives that will shape Gambia’s international partnerships in the years to come.