By Adama Makasuba
Dr Momodou Tangara, Minister of Foreign affairs has said the country aspires to be a beacon for all in Africa and the rest of the world.
Speaking on eve of the United States independent celebration, he said: “let me conclude by once again wishing you a happy anniversary and reassure you of our friendship and partnership for the benefit of our peoples. We are a restored democracy that is truly inspired by the evolution of your democracy and its institutions.”
“The democratic experiment is always a work-in-progress, and we are committed to nurturing and consolidating our democratic gains. We aspire to be a beacon for all in Africa and the rest of the world. In this journey, we value the support and contribution of our friends and partners like the United States,” he added.
According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to the world that today more than ever before the world is a global village and as you rightly mentioned in quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
“We call on our friends and partners to sustain and enhance their support for the achievement of our national development priorities. We welcome our renewed engagement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the USAID in this regard. We also welcome our partnership in addressing the phenomenon of trafficking in persons, consolidation of human rights, rule of law, and capacity-building for our security forces.
“Over the past few years, The Gambia has made remarkable progress in its fight against trafficking in persons. We are happy to note that in your 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report, The Gambia was upgraded from a Tier 2 Watch List to a Tier 2 Country. This is ample testimony that our commitment to fighting this scourge remains unwavering. Your continued support and collaboration is highly appreciated. We will continue to count on your partnership as we continue to implement the Action Plan in this regard,” he added.