British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has arrived in The Gambia at the start of a two-day trip to West Africa.
He was received at the Banjul International Airport by Gambia’s Vice President Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang and other Cabinet Ministers.
This is the first recorded visit to The Gambia by a Foreign Secretary.
From the airport, Mr Johnson was drove to meet President Adama Barrow where they discussed key opportunities and challenges facing the country.
Johnson tweeted “Welcomed warmly in The #Gambia. President Barrow & I held talks on helping his country inc rejoining the #Commonwealth after recent election”.
In The Gambia in addition to meeting with President Barrow he will visit the UK-funded Medical Research Council and speak to Chevening scholars and employees and employers in the tourism industry – a huge employer in the country.
Ahead of the visit, the Foreign Secretary said: I’m delighted to be the first Foreign Secretary to visit Gambia this week and delighted to have a chance to meet the newly elected President Barrow and President Akufo-Addo of Ghana. Their elections highlight the continuing strengthening of democracy in West Africa. I am also very pleased that Gambia wants to rejoin the Commonwealth and we will ensure this happens in the coming months. The strength of our partnerships shows that Global Britain is growing in influence and activity around the world”.
From Gambia, Johnson will head to Ghana were he will will meet with President Akufo-Addo before wrapping up his two days West Africa trip.
