Press Release Dated: Friday, 5th November, 2021

Re: The Gambia and Sierra Leone Mutually Waived Residence Permit Fees for Their Nationals

Banjul, The Gambia — During his last April visit to the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency President Adama Barrow, had very fruitful meetings with The Gambian community in Sierra Leone where various issues affecting communal life were discussed. 

Most prominent was the payment of Alien Residence Permits which according to the Gambian community, was very expensive for poor aliens trying to improve the lot of their lives. They appealed to President Barrow to engage his Sierra Leonean counterpart, His Excellency, President Maada Bio in finding mutually-beneficial solutions to the financial burden affecting citizens of both countries.

President Barrow who values the wellbeing of Gambians everywhere,immediately engaged his dear brother, President Bio particularly, in recognition of the two countries’ longstanding historic ties.

Subsequently, both countries agreed to reciprocally waive Residence Permit fees for their respective citizens. The modalities of this new arrangement are captured in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Republics Sierra Leone and The Gambia, in Freetown, Sierra Leonean, on the 28th October 2021. 

Gambian Interior Minister, Hon. Yankuba N. Sonko singed the MOU on behalf of The Gambia Government while David Maurice Panda-Noah, Minister of Internal Affairs, signed on behalf of the Sierra Leonean Government.

During the MOU signing ceremony, both ministers Yankuba Sonko and Panda-Noah echoed the strong historical and cultural ties that exist between The Gambia and Sierra Leone. They hailed this mutually-beneficial agreement as a significant step in consolidating the fraternal ties between the two sister countries. 

Signed:

Ebrima G Sankareh

The Gambia Government Spokesperson