The Expertsโ Meeting of the 4th Session of the Senegalo-Gambian Presidential Council officially opened today in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, bringing together senior officials and technical experts from The Gambia and Senegal to review progress made since the Third Session of the Presidential Council held in Banjul in August 2023.
Ms. Fatou Kinneh Jobe, Permanent Secretary II at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia, led the Gambian delegation to the Expertsโ Meeting and delivered the opening remarks.
In her statement, Ms. Jobe reaffirmed the deep historical, cultural, and fraternal ties between The Gambia and Senegal, emphasizing that the Presidential Council remains a vital mechanism for advancing bilateral cooperation, regional integration, and shared prosperity. She highlighted progress made across key sectors since 2023 while underscoring the importance of strengthening implementation, coordination, and follow-up mechanisms to achieve tangible outcomes. She further called on delegates to engage in constructive and results-oriented deliberations and to formulate practical recommendations for consideration by Ministers and Heads of State.
Leading the Senegalese delegation, Mr. Mouhamed Konante, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Senegalese Abroad, commended the excellent relations between the two countries and stressed the importance of the Expertsโ Meeting in reviewing the implementation of decisions, agreements, and roadmaps adopted under the Presidential Council framework, as well as preparing the ground for the Ministerial and Presidential Sessions.
H.E. Ambassador Papa Mada Ndour, Executive Secretary of the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat, highlighted the strategic importance of the meeting in assessing progress made on previous decisions and developing recommendations to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries. He also emphasized the role of the Permanent Secretariat in facilitating dialogue, coordination, and implementation of bilateral commitments.
Over the next two days, experts from both countries will deliberate on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including peace and security, transport and connectivity, trade and customs cooperation, energy, health, education, environmental management, institutional collaboration, and other strategic areas of bilateral cooperation.
The Government of The Gambia remains firmly committed to working closely with the Republic of Senegal to deepen bilateral cooperation and advance the shared aspirations of both peoples.
