United Kingdom Ambassador to the Commonwealth Philip Parham Friday called for a strong solidarity among the 54 member-countries.
Parham, who was in Banjul on an official visit, made the call in a meeting with Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad Dr. Mamadou Tangara.
He also commended African leaders for their commitments made at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in London in April 2018.
Tangara stated that the Commonwealth was not an organisation that imposed values on member-states and suggested the need to re-organise and close ranks within the Commonwealth.
He further emphasised the need for increased presence of Commonwealth activities in The Gambia so that ordinary Gambian could feel the benefit of the organisation’s presence.
According to him, his office will use the forthcoming Commonwealth meeting in Kigali to strengthen cooperation with Rwanda with a view to learning from the success story of that country.
“Rwanda represents hope in terms of their experience and where the country is today,” he said.
Former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh unilaterally withdrew the West African nation from the Commonwealth on October 3, 2013.
However, following the change of government in January 2017, the new democratic dispensation of President Adama Barrow facilitated the re-entry of The Gambia into the Commonwealth on 8th February 2018.
Since then, The Gambia has been partaking in all major events and activities of the organisation.
