Gambians in Southeast Asia have told The Fatu Network the ministry of foreign affairs has shown it doesn’t care about the welfare of Gambians abroad.
Gambians living in South East Asia early September this year wrote to the ministry of foreign affairs after learning the ministry was contemplating closing the only Gambian embassy in Southeast Asia, in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
“This decision made by our current government was brought to our attention when standard Newspaper published it on the 13th of July 2020. In the Newspaper article, it is reported that the government’s only plan of shutting down this mission was as a result of financial constraints and also downsizing diplomatic services for effectiveness in operational costs,” the Gambians said in their letter shared with The Fatu Network.
“In reference to the above report, we write to appeal to Gambia government to reconsider their decision made on the closure of The Gambian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The reason being, we strongly believed that closing the embassy will cause unreasonable detriments to many students and all other Gambians living in the region. The mission is centered in a strategic location and it is of great significance to the government and more importantly, to the citizens living in Southeast Asia. It is this mission that every Gambian rush to when they are plunged into trials and tribulations. We have undoubtedly recognized the services that the mission is rendering to us,” they told the minister of foreign affairs.
On September 14, the community received an email from a female foreign ministry official acknowledging receipt of the letter. They have not received any response from the ministry since then.
One Gambian student in Southeast Asia told The Fatu Network: “It shows they don’t care about our welfare. For two months they have not even bothered to respond to our letter.
“If at all they are not satisfied with the officials they have at the embassy, they can appoint officials they think can do the job but closing this embassy is a bad idea.”
