The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Hon. Sering Modou Njie, today held a strategic dialogue session with members of the Development Partners Group (DPG) at the United Nations House in Banjul.
The dialogue, convened by the Development Partners Group and co-chaired by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in The Gambia, Mr. Karl-Frederick Paul, and H.E. Mr. Klaus Botzet, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to The Gambia, provided a platform for an exchange of views on regional developments and emerging trends with implications for The Gambia and the wider sub-region.
Discussions focused on the evolving geopolitical and security landscape in West Africa, including political transitions in parts of the region, challenges to regional integration, and the growing threats posed by violent extremism, transnational organised crime, irregular migration, and insecurity in the Sahel.
During the discussions, Hon. Minister Njie also briefed development partners on recent diplomatic engagements undertaken by The Gambia and highlighted the outcomes of the Fourth Session of the Senegalo-Gambian Presidential Council held in Dakar, Republic of Senegal. He highlighted that the meeting between H.E. President Adama Barrow and H.E. President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye reaffirmed the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two neighbouring countries, while underscoring their commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and promoting regional integration and stability.
The Minister further reflected on the changing global development cooperation environment, characterized by shifting aid priorities, increasing fiscal constraints, heightened competition for development financing, and growing debt vulnerabilities among developing countries; positing the need to explore innovative financing mechanisms, strengthen South-South cooperation, and opportunities to leverage private sector investment in support of sustainable development.
The engagement further addressed the opportunities and challenges presented by The Gambia’s youthful population. The importance of investing in education, skills development, entrepreneurship, and employment creation was highlighted as critical to unlocking the potential of young people and promoting long-term social and economic stability.
Hon. Minister Njie reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to democratic governance, regional cooperation, peaceful coexistence, and inclusive development. He underscored the importance of sustained partnerships in addressing shared challenges and transforming emerging uncertainties into opportunities for growth, resilience, and prosperity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad expressed its appreciation to all development partners for their continued support and reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation in pursuit of sustainable development objectives for the benefit of the Gambian people.
