DOCSLIB.ORG

THE GAMBIA COUNTRY of ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
THE GAMBIA COUNTRY of ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service THE GAMBIA COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service 9 June 2011 (reissued 17 October 2011) THE GAMBIA 9 JUNE 2011 (REISSUED 17 OCTOBER 2011) Contents Preface (includes explanatory note on why the report was reissued) Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 1.01 Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 1.09 Map ........................................................................................................................ 1.13 2. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................ 2.01 3. HISTORY (1965 TO 2011) .......................................................................................... 3.01 4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS (JANUARY 2011 TO MARCH 2011) ....................................... 4.01 5. CONSTITUTION .......................................................................................................... 5.01 6. POLITICAL SYSTEM ................................................................................................... 6.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 6.01 The Executive Branch .......................................................................................... 6.05 The Legislative Branch ........................................................................................ 6.07 Human Rights 7. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 7.01 8. SECURITY FORCES .................................................................................................... 8.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 8.01 Police ..................................................................................................................... 8.02 Structure and reform ............................................................................................ 8.04 Armed forces ........................................................................................................ 8.07 National Intelligence Agency (NIA) ..................................................................... 8.09 Human rights violations by government forces ................................................ 8.10 Arbitrary arrest and detention ............................................................................. 8.10 Torture ................................................................................................................ 8.15 Avenues of complaint .......................................................................................... 8.17 9. JUDICIARY ................................................................................................................ 9.01 Organisation ......................................................................................................... 9.01 Independence ....................................................................................................... 9.08 Fair trial ................................................................................................................. 9.10 10. ARREST AND DETENTION – LEGAL RIGHTS .................................................................. 10.01 11. PRISON CONDITIONS ................................................................................................. 11.01 12. DEATH PENALTY ....................................................................................................... 12.01 13. POLITICAL AFFILIATION.............................................................................................. 13.01 Freedom of political expression.......................................................................... 13.01 Freedom of association and assembly ............................................................... 13.05 Opposition groups and political activists .......................................................... 13.09 14. FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND MEDIA ............................................................................... 14.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 14.01 Newspapers, radio, Internet and television ........................................................ 14.08 Journalists ............................................................................................................ 14.12 15. HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS AND ACTIVISTS .................................... 15.01 16. CORRUPTION ............................................................................................................ 16.01 17. FREEDOM OF RELIGION .............................................................................................. 17.01 Religious demography ......................................................................................... 17.07 18. ETHNIC GROUPS ....................................................................................................... 18.01 ii The main text of this COI Report contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 9 June 2011. 9 JUNE 2011 (REISSUED 17 OCTOBER 2011) THE GAMBIA Overview ............................................................................................................... 18.01 Mandinka ............................................................................................................... 18.05 Fula (Fulakunda, Fulani) ...................................................................................... 18.10 Wolof ..................................................................................................................... 18.13 19. LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) PERSONS ................................. 19.01 Legal rights ........................................................................................................... 19.01 Treatment by, and attitude of, state authorities ................................................. 19.05 Societal treatment and attitudes ......................................................................... 19.13 Transgender/transexuality ................................................................................... 16.16 20. DISABILITY ............................................................................................................... 20.01 21. WOMEN ................................................................................................................... 21.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 21.01 Legal rights ........................................................................................................... 21.02 Political rights ....................................................................................................... 21.04 Social and economic rights ................................................................................. 21.06 Access to education and employment ................................................................ 21.08 Marriage and divorce .......................................................................................... 21.11 Violence against women ...................................................................................... 21.15 Rape ................................................................................................................... 21.22 Government and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) assistance ............ 21.24 Health and welfare ................................................................................................ 21.26 22. CHILDREN ................................................................................................................ 22.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 22.01 Basic legal information ....................................................................................... 22.04 Legal rights ........................................................................................................... 22.05 Violence against children ................................................................................... 22.11 Underage/forced marriage ................................................................................. 22.18 Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) ....................................................................... 22.20 Child labour ........................................................................................................ 22.25 Childcare and protection .................................................................................... 22.31 Street children ...................................................................................................... 22.32 Education .............................................................................................................. 22.36 Health and welfare ................................................................................................ 22.43 Documentation ..................................................................................................... 22.47 23. TRAFFICKING ...........................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Volume 5 -GOVERNMENT LOANS, GRANTS & DONATIONS
    The Commission of Inquiry COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES OF PUBLIC BODIES, ENTERPRISES AND OFFICES AS REGARDS THEIR DEALINGS WITH FORMER PRESIDENT YAHYA A.J.J JAMMEH AND CONNECTED MATTERS REPORT VOLUME 5 GOVERNMENT LOANS, GRANTS & DONATIONS 10th AUGUST 2017 - 29th MARCH 2019 The Commission of Inquiry CONTENTS Page Introduction 3 Chapter 1 EXIM Bank of India (MAHINDRA TRACTORS) 4 - 12 Chapter 2 Taiwan Loans and Grants 13 - 25 Chapter 3 Japanese Grant 26 - 30 Chapter 4 Qatari Grant (State Aircraft) 31 - 36 Chapter 5 Nigeria Budget Support (Oil Liftings) 37 - 41 2 The Commission of Inquiry INTRODUCTION This volume focuses on various resources—including grants, donations and loans (collectively, the ―Resources‖)—intended for the people and Government of The Gambia that were diverted, converted or misappropriated by, or at the direction of, ex- President Jammeh. The Resources that are the focus of this volume include a credit facility from the Export-Import Bank of India, grants provided by the Republic of China on Taiwan, Japan, and Qatar, and a donation from the Nigerian government. These Resources are each discussed separately in the five chapters that follow. Broadly, as the evidence herein shows, Ex-President Jammeh misappropriated these Resources mostly through his private companies, particularly Kanilai Group Investment (KGI) International and Kanilai Family Farms (KFF). Once improperly diverted, the Resources were then channeled into accounts that were beneficially controlled by the former President. In addition, although the Gambian people did not benefit from the Resources, interest and principal payments on particular loans were repaid using taxpayer and public funds.
    [Show full text]
  • Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations in the Gambia
    DOCUMENTING DICTATORSHIP: Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations in The Gambia J u n e , 2 0 2 0 Centre for Democracy & Development Centre pour la Democratie/ et le Developpement/ Contents Executive Summary 2 Towards a 'new Gambia' 6 Creating the commission 10 Approach 12 KEY FINDINGS: Matching expectations? 13 Uncovering the truth 13 Perpetrators on trial 18 Compensation concerns 22 (Re)Building The Gambia 25 The political backdrop 27 Towards a conclusion 27 Recommendations 29 References 31 Boxes: Box 1 – Gambia's complicated political overhaul 08 Box 2 - What is transitional justice? 10 Box 3 - Essa Faal: Interrogating the truth 15 Box 4- Giving voice to women 20 03 Acknowledgements The report was authored by Idayat Hassan and Jamie Hitchen. Alhassan Ibrahim, researcher at the Centre for Democracy and Development, offered invaluable assistance during interviews in The Gambia in February 2020. Our profound thanks to Sait Matty Jaw for all his support in arranging interviews and focus group discussions in Banjul in February 2020 and for his invaluable insights and editorial support in the development of the report. To Robina Namusisi for her support in helping us with logistical arrangements in The Gambia. And to Mohamed Suma at the International Centre for Transitional Justice for his feedback on the draft. Most importantly our thanks are due to the interview and focus group respondents who took time to share their thoughts and insights about the work of the TRRC with us. The report was funded by the Mac Arthur Foundation. Front cover photo credit: © Jason Florio Executive Summary The Gambia's Truth, Reconciliation and contested presidential polls in late 2021, the Reparations Commission (TRRC) has heard TRRC is just one part of a complicated public testimony from over 200 individuals transitional justice process.
    [Show full text]
  • Joint News Release the GAMBIA JOINS OTHER
    Joint News Release THE GAMBIA JOINS OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES IN UNDERTAKING GROUND- BREAKING STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF CHILD UNDERNUTRITION Banjul Gambia, 12 December 2018 – The Government of The Gambia today launched the ground-breaking study of the impact of child undernutrition on the economy - its theme, ‘Eliminating stunting in The Gambia is a necessary step for sustained development’. This is the latest in a series known as the Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) study which examines the effects of child undernutrition on health, education and national productivity on a country. COHA is a pan-African initiative led by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA), with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). “The Gambia Government recognizes the crucial role nutrition plays in economic development” said H.E the Vice President and Minister for Women’s Affairs, Ousainou Darboe, as he launched the COHA study. He further noted that the Cost of Hunger in Africa study provides the necessary evidence base needed for directing urgent investment to advance human capital and more specifically, nutrition. So far, 15 countries have completed the study, namely Burkina Faso, Chad, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Rwanda, Swaziland, Uganda, and most recently in Niger. The findings show that countries are incurring significant losses raging between 1.9 and 16.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually due to the effect of malnutrition. Speaking on behalf of the African Union and NEPAD Agency, Bibi Giyose noted that Cost of Hunger in Africa study should not be an end in itself but the beginning of something much bigger.
    [Show full text]
  • Level: Bachelor's 2006-2016: the GAMBIA's FOREIGN POLICY
    Level: Bachelor’s 2006-2016: THE GAMBIA’S FOREIGN POLICY THE GRADUAL SHIFT TOWARD CHINA AND THE GULF Author: Amat Jeng ([email protected]) Supervisor: Docent Amr G.E Sabet Examiners: Docent Amr G.E Sabet & Docent Kjetil Duvold Subject/main field of study: International Relations Course code: SK2010 Date of examination: At the Dalarna University it is possible to publish the student thesis in full text in DiVA. The publishing is open access, which means the work will be freely accessible to read and download on the internet. This will significantly increase the dissemination and visibility of the student thesis. Open access is becoming the standard route for spreading scientific and academic information on the internet. Dalarna University recommends that both researchers as well as students publish their work open access. I give my/we give our consent for full text publishing (freely accessible on the internet, open access): Yes ☒ No ☐ Dalarna University – SE-791 88 Falun – Phone +4623-77 80 00 ABSTRACT After coming to power in a bloodless coup in 1994, Yahya Jammeh gradually established himself as a controversial leader of a country less than half the size of Dalarna, home to the Dalarna University. During the last decades of his rule, he became known for his controversial speeches at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and his anti-Western rhetoric. Jammeh broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan after two decades of a marriage of convenience; he became ever more hostile to the West; and sought cooperation with China and the Gulf states of Qatar and Kuwait. At the domestic front, he embarked on establishing an Islamic identity.
    [Show full text]
  • Janneh Commission White Paper-3
    THE GAMBIA GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER ON THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES OF PUBLIC BODIES, ENTERPRISES AND OFFICES AS REGARDS THEIR DEALINGS WITH FORMER PRESIDENT YAHYA A.J.J. JAMMEH AND CONNECTED MATTERS Introduction 1. On 22nd July, 1994, the democratic government of President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, was toppled in a military coup d‟état by a small group of young lieutenants led by Yahya Abdul Aziz Jamus Junkung Jammeh. The coup makers quickly established the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) consisting at first of Chairman Lt. Yahya Jammeh, Lt. Sanna Sabally, Lt. Edward Singhateh and Lt. Sadibou Hydara, who were soon after joined by Lt Yankuba Touray and Captain Lamin Kaba Bajo. 2. Following the introduction of the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh retired from The Gambia National Army, transformed himself into a civilian and contested successive presidential elections which he won as candidate for the Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC) party. In a historic election held on 1st December, 2016, President Jammeh for the APRC was defeated by the current President, Mr. Adama Barrow, who was supported by a coalition of opposition political parties. 3. A tense and dangerous political stand-off ensued when President Jammeh refused to hand over power to President-elect Adama Barrow, culminating in a threat of the use of force by ECOWAS member States to compel President Jammeh to quit power. He ultimately succumbed and left the Country on 21st January, 2017, following the swearing-in of President-elect Adama Barrow on 19th January, 2017, in Dakar, Senegal.
    [Show full text]
  • (SNF2) Report – Jun 2019
    Consultative Dialogue Organised by GK Partners & Office of the President (Government of The Gambia) SNF2 REPORT OF THE SECOND STAKE IN THE NATION FORUM Incorporating notes on the Second Diaspora Finance Technical Roundtable (DFTR2), held on 6 March 2019, at the National Assembly Building Presidential Keynote Address Delivered By: His Excellency Vice President Ousainu A.M.N. Darboe Saturday, 12 January 2019 (09.00 to 19.00 ), Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, Bijilo, The Gambia SECOND STAKE IN THE NATION FORUM (SNF2) Front cover photos: Photo 1: Plenary speakers from left to right: Dr. Ruby E.M. Randall, IMF Country Representative; Hon. Hadrammeh Sidibeh, Minister of Youths and Sports; Prof. Gibril Faal, D irector of GK Partners & MSDG Project Director; H.E. Ousainu A.N.M. Darboe, Vice President of The Republic of The Gambia; Hon. Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Hon. Mariama Jack Denton, Speaker of the National Assembly; H.E. Dr Marion Wei chelt Krupski, Swiss Ambassador to The Gambia; Ms. Oumie Andrews,Vice President, Gambian Diaspora Healthcare Initiative. Photo 2 & 3: Cross section of the SNF2 audience. Photo 4: Cabinet ministers from left to right: Mr James Gomez, Minister of Fisherie s and Water Resources; Mr Ebrima Camara, Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service; Mr Ebrima Mballow, Minister of Interior; Mr Hamat Bah, Minister of Tourism a nd Culture; Dr Isatou Touray, Minister of Health and Social Welfare; Mr Lamin N. Dibba, Minister of Agriculture; Mr Mambury Njie, Minister of Finance; Mr Musa Drammeh, Minister of Lands and Regional Government; Mr Ebrima Sillah, Minister of Informat ion and Communication Infrastructure.
    [Show full text]
  • General Introduction and Ex-President Jammeh's
    The Commission of Inquiry COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITES OF PUBLIC BODIES, ENTERPRISES AND OFFICES AS REGARDS THEIR DEALINGS WITH FORMER PRESIDENT YAHYA A.J.J. JAMMEH AND CONNECTED MATTERS REPORT VOLUMES 1 & 2 GENERAL INTRODUCTION & EX-PRESIDENT JAMMEH’S FINANCIAL DEALINGS & CORRUPTION (BANK ACCOUNTS) 10th AUGUST 2017 - 29th MARCH 2019 The Commission of Inquiry CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 3 - 4 VOLUME 1 General Introduction 5 – 40 VOLUME 2 Introduction 41 Chapter 1 Central Bank Accounts 41 - 132 Chapter 2 Accounts with Guaranty Trust Bank Limited 133 - 156 Chapter 3 Accounts with Trust Bank Limited 157 - 193 Chapter 4 Accounts with Other Banks 194 Chapter 5 Gambia Embassy in Washington – Procurement Accounts 195 - 196 Chapter 6 APRC Accounts 197 – 200 APPENDIX 1 201 - 203 Chapter 7 Recommendations 204 - 212 2 The Commission of Inquiry ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A few of us are ever given the opportunity or occasion to serve our country in some unique way during our lifetime. This Commission of Inquiry has been unique in many ways. Of these, we believe the most important is its potential to help shape the future direction of our country by avoiding some of the exposed pitfalls and follies of the past 22 years. We recognize the honour of having been given the opportunity to serve, and in this regard, would like to express our gratitude to the President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency, Adama Barrow, for the great honor we have been accorded in our appointment to this national assignment. Many Commissions of Inquiry preceded this Commission. However, no other Gambian Commission is yet to be confronted by a task of such magnitude and complexity, as is apparent from this Report.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Rights Abuses on the Rise in Already Repressive Gambia
    Human Rights Abuses on the Rise in Already Repressive Gambia Since seizing power in a 1994 military coup, President Yahya Jammeh has made Gambia one of the most repressive countries in all of Africa. In two decades of Jammeh’s rule, state-sanctioned torture, kidnappings, enforced disappearances, murders and arbitrary executions; incommunicado detentions without charge; and routine denials of freedom of expression, association, and other basic human rights have become commonplace. Gambia’s security and intelligence services are directly involved in these violations. In 2014, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, and UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Juan Méndez, traveled to Gambia, the first visit to the country made by experts from the Human Rights Council’s fact-finding body. Though they were prevented from completing their investigation, the Special Rapporteurs were able to gather a significant amount of information about the Jammeh regime. Mr. Méndez in particular found that “torture is a consistent practice carried out by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA),”1 which is the Gambian government’s main intelligence gathering unit. Authorities in Gambia have imprisoned countless individuals over the past two decades, targeting journalists, political opponents and dissidents, government critics, and human rights defenders. These acts are often carried out by Gambia’s infamous NIA, as well as the “The Jungulars,” a government death squad that operates with impunity. It is widely believed that President Jammeh exercises full command responsibility over both units. A failed coup attempt, which took place on December 30, 2014, has further emboldened the already brutal Jammeh regime, making the necessity for the international community to act all the more urgent.
    [Show full text]
  • The Statesmanls Yearbook 2020
    The Statesman’s Yearbook 2020 The Statesman’s Yearbook 2020 The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World Springer Nature Limited Published annually since 1864 The Statesman’s Yearbook 2020 ISBN 978-1-349-95939-6 ISBN 978-1-349-95940-2 (eBook) ISBN 978-1-349-95941-9 (Bundle) https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95940-2 © Springer Nature Limited 2020 The author(s) has/have asserted their right(s) to be identified as the author(s) of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made.
    [Show full text]
  • Report Commissioned B
    Review of the June 2011 UK Border Agency Country of Information Service The Gambia Country of Origin (COI) Report Commissioned by Dr Khalid Koser, Chair of the Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IAGCI) Prepared by Stephanie Huber and Elizabeth Williams (Asylum Research Consultancy – ARC) and Dr Pamela Kea (University of Sussex) August 2011 Content Background p. 2 Scope of the review p. 2 Methodology p. 3 Executive Summary p. 4 Review p. 6 1 Background Stephanie Huber & Elizabeth Williams – Asylum Research Consultancy (ARC) Stephanie and Elizabeth, specialist COI researchers, both have over four years experience of conducting COI research to support individual asylum and human rights claims at the Immigration Advisory Service (IAS). Upon leaving IAS in September 2010 they set up ‘Asylum Research Consultancy’ (ARC) in order to continue to provide a case-specific COI research service and to undertake research, advocacy and training to improve the quality of refugee status determination (RSD), and in particular, the use of COI. ARC also produces a free bi-monthly COI Update which provides notification of new UK Country Guidance cases, new UKBA COI publications and developments in the top refugee-producing countries. For further information visit www.asylumresearchconsultancy.com or email ARC at [email protected] Dr Pamela Kea – University of Sussex Dr Pamela Kea, an anthropologist with a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology, has carried out research on gender and processes of socialisation in West Africa and particularly in The Gambia since 1993. She has also lived in The Gambia from 1993 to 1995 and from 1997 to 1998 to undertake research and returns to The Gambia on a regular basis to carry out further research.
    [Show full text]
  • Provisional List of Delegations to the United Nations Conference on Sustanable Development Rio+20 I Member States
    PROVISIONAL LIST OF DELEGATIONS TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON SUSTANABLE DEVELOPMENT RIO+20 I MEMBER STATES AFGHANISTAN H.E. Mr. Zalmai Rassoul, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Representatives H.E. Mr. Wais Ahmad Barmak, Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development H.E. Mr. Mohammad Asif Rahimi, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Animal Husbandry H.E. Prince Mustapha Zahir, President of National Environment Protection Agency H.E. Mr. Jawed Ludin, Deputy Foreign Minister H.E. Sham Lal Batijah, Senior Economic Adviser to the President H.E. Mr. Zahir Tanin, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mr. Mohammad Erfani Ayoob, Director General, United Nations and International Conferences Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ershad Ahmadi, Director General of Fifth Political Department Mr. Janan Mosazai, Spokesperson, Ministry for Foreign Affairs Mr. Enayetullah Madani, Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the UN Mr. Aziz Ahmad Noorzad, Deputy Chief of Protocol, Ministry for Foreign Affairs Ms. Kwaga Kakar, Adviser to the Foreign Minister Ms. Ghazaal Habibyar, Director General of Policies, Ministry of Mine Mr. Wahidullah Waissi, Adviser to the Deputy Foreign Minister 2 ALBANIA H.E. Mr. Fatmir Mediu, Minister for Environment, Forests and Water Administration of the Republic of Albania Representatives H.E. Mr. Ferit Hoxha, Ambassador Permanent Representative to the United Nations H.E. Mrs. Tajiana Gjonaj, Ambassador to Brazil Mr. Oerd Bylykbashi, Chief of Cabinet of the Prime Minister Mr. Glori Husi, Adviser to the Prime Minister Mr. Abdon de Paula, Honorary Consul to Rio de Janeiro Mr. Thomas Amaral Neves, Honorary Consul to São Paulo Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Brief on India-Gambia Relations Bilateral Relations with India Are Warm and Friendly
    Brief on India-Gambia Relations Bilateral relations with India are warm and friendly. President Adama Barrow appreciating the initiatives taken as a part of ongoing celebration of 150th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi wrote an anthology on “What Gandhi Means to me”. Gambia’s resident High Commission in New Delhi was inaugurated in February 2009. Embassy of India in Dakar is concurrently accredited to The Gambia. India has also appointed Honorary Consul in The Gambia. Recent High level Visits Marking first ever visit by President of India to The Gambia, Hon’ble Shri Ram Nath Kovind paid a State Visit to The Gambia from 31 July – 1 August 2019. During the visit, Hon’ble President reiterated India’s commitment to support Gambia’s development. In particular India has agreed to reallocate our line of credit of $92 million for infrastructure projects as well as extend ground assistance to support capacity building for revival of cottage industry and solar energy projects to install 300 solar home system and 20 solar water pumps in selective villages in The Gambia. Earlier, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi visited Gambia in September 2015 as Special Envoy of Prime Minister (SEPM) to personally invite the Gambian President to participate in India Africa Forum Summit III (IAFS-III). As to the visits from The Gambia to India, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad visited India from March 7-12, 2019. From March 17-19, 2019, Mr. Mambury Njie, Minister of Finance and Mr. Bai Lamin Jobe, Minister of Works, Government of Republic of Gambia attended The 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project partnership in New Delhi.
    [Show full text]