Press Release from Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad, His Excellency Dr. Mamadou Tangara, on Tuesday 30th January 2024 visited The Russian Federation on a working visit. During his visit, he held talks with his Russian counterpart, His Excellency Minister Sergey Lavrov, during which they discussed ways to strengthen the historically friendly Russian-Gambian relations.

The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in trade, economics, and humanitarian endeavors, with both diplomats exploring opportunities for increased business collaboration, particularly in infrastructure, transportation, and agriculture.

The two sides also conducted a comprehensive exchange of views on global and African affairs, emphasizing the preference for political and diplomatic methods in resolving African crises. They highlighted shared approaches between Moscow and Banjul in Middle East regulation and discussed ways to address UN Security Council reform, regional conflict resolution, and counterterrorism efforts in the Saharo-Sahel region and West Africa.

Foreign Minister Tangara also discussed the upcoming 15th summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Banjul this May with his counterpart. They plan to strengthen coordination in the UN and other multilateral platforms to advance the comprehensive Russian-African partnership.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Consultations between the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad, underscoring their commitment to ongoing diplomatic collaboration.

This working visit marks a significant step towards strengthening the relations between Russia and The Gambia, creating a platform for future collaborations in various sectors.