The United Nations Resident Coordinator in The Gambia Ms. Seraphine Wakana and team paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Defence Hon. Sering Modou Njie.
The aim of the visit was to extend a congratulatory message to the new appointed Minister.
Ms. Wakana congratulated Hon Njie and described the appointment as a well-deserved one. Ms. Wakana went on to highlight the UN’s high level of interest in the ongoing Security Sector Reform process and their numerous areas of interest, possible interventions and challenges.
She reiterated United Nations support and continuous partnership with the Ministry of Defence.
Honorable Sering Modou Njie seized the opportunity to express sincere gratitude for the visit describing it as a timely one. According to Hon Njie the Ministry is appreciative of the UN’s unwavering support over the years. He went on to identify significant areas for UN’s possible intervention.
In a separate development, Sering Modou Njie, new Minister of Defence, talked about partnership cooperation with a delegation led by H.E Ambassador El Hadji Ibou Boye from the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat at the Defence Ministry in Banjul.
H.E Boye registered appreciation for the warm reception accorded him and his team. The Senegalo-Gambia Secretariat, according to him, is an instrument of functional cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
He said the Secretariat deemed it fitting to partner with the Ministry of Defence since it is the line Ministry tasked with the protection of the Territorial Integrity of The Gambia. He anticipated closer cooperation and partnership between the Secretariat and the Ministry for the benefit of the two countries.
The Minister of Defence expressed utmost delight for what he described as his first official engagement since assuming office and assured the Secretariat of the Ministry’s full commitment and support to the efforts of the Secretariat.
“Collaborations of such kind should be valued and further cemented in the interest of The Gambia and Senegal,” he said, while assured his Ministry’s unflinching support and collaboration with the Permanent Secretariat Commission to ensure peace and stability in both countries and by extension the sub-region for the benefit of all.
Speaking earlier the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Mrs. Rohie Bittaye Darboe who delivered the welcoming remarks extended appreciation to the Senegalo-Gambia Permanent Secretariat for the visit.
She highlighted the significance of the Secretariat adding that the partnership and cordial relationship between the two institutions can yield mutual benefits for both countries in the area of Defence.