Fajara, 8 August 2017
The new Gambian government continues to build its diplomatic relations
globally. President Adama Barrow today received letters of credence from the new ambassadors of
Turkey, the United Kingdom and Guinea Bissau.
President Barrow told all three envoys that The Gambia was open to all nations, and it sought
friendship and cordial relations with all countries. He said he expected The Gambia’s relations with
other nations to enhance cooperation for the socio-economic development of The Gambia and those
countries.
Presenting his credentials, Ambassador Ismail Sefa Yuceer of Turkey assured President Barrow that
during his tenure of service in The Gambia, Turkey would work with the Gambian authorities to
strengthen ties in education, health, fisheries and mechanised agriculture, while also looking at
investment in trade, energy and telecommunication.
Ambassador Yuceer has been a career diplomat since 1991 and has served diplomatic assignments in various countries. He arrived in the Gambia in November 2016 but the presentation of his credentials was delayed because of the political impasse in The Gambia early this year. His diplomatic tour of duty as Turkish Ambassador to The Gambia will be for two years.
Britain’s new diplomatic envoy to The Gambia, Ambassador Sharon Wardle, also presented her
credentials to President Barrow today.
Ambassador Wardle intends to build on the long-standing relationship between The Gambia and the
United Kingdom. She commended President Barrow and his team for their leadership, noting that
they had set an example of democracy worthy of emulation. She said The Gambia and the United
Kingdom enjoyed a long history of association, which would continue to flourish. Speaking with
reporters after her audience with the President, the Ambassador said Gambians could expect to see a boost in tourism from the UK, a sector that had always been strong, given the large number of
tourists who come to The Gambia from Britain. The tourism sector is expected to create jobs for the
youth.
Ambassador Wardle spoke of the UK’s continued support to The Gambia in higher education with
the Chevening scholarships. Other areas she highlighted for cooperation were justice, capacity
building for the Gambian legislature and women’s empowerment through the UK Department for
International Development (DFID).
The Gambia’s long-standing cordial relationship with the UK was disrupted when the former
Jammeh regime withdrew its membership from the Commonwealth in October 2013. Ambassador
Wardle assured President Barrow that the UK was fully supportive of The Gambia’s return to the
Commonwealth, and she confirmed that the process to make this happen was underway at the
Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
Ambassador Wardle joined the Foreign and Commonwealth office in 1985, and has had diplomatic
assignments in Moscow, Beirut, Riyadh and Yemen, serving in various capacities.
The third and final credentials ceremony of the day was the presentation of letters of credence by
Ambassador Mailo Cassama of Guinea Bissau.The new envoy reiterated the historic ties between
Guinea Bissau and The Gambia, dating all the way back to the Kaabu Empire. He said he intended to nurture the continued ties between the two countries during his diplomatic tour of duty in Banjul.
Ambassador Cassama also spoke of the two countries’ membership in sub-regional and regional
bodies. He expressed confidence in a strengthening of bilateral relations in defense and security,
immigration, tourism and culture. He also said that the two countries could benefit from sharing
experience in cashew farming.
Ambassador Cassama started his career as a banker in 1982, rising to become a financial
administrator. He became Adviser to the Guinea Bissau President in 2013, and a year later moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before his appointment as Ambassador.
Several members of the Gambian Cabinet were present at the credentials presentations this morning. They were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Ousainou Darboe; Interior Minister Ahmad Mai Fatty; Trade, Industry and Employment Minister Isatou Touray; Petroleum and Energy, Minister Fafa Sanyang; and Fisheries and Water Resources Minister James Gomez. Other senior officials were Secretary to Cabinet Isatou Auber-Faal; and Permanent Secretaries Njogu Saeer Bah and Ebrima Ceesay from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, and the Office of the President, respectively.
