By Haddy Touray
President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye and host counterpart President Adama Barrow have expressed great satisfaction with the status of their bilateral relationship.
In a joint communiqué signed at State House in Banjul on Saturday, the Senegambia leaders collectively buttressed the unique bonds between the two countries due to being inextricably linked by history, geography, culture, and common development aspirations.
Presidents Barrow and Faye commended the diverse efforts being made to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in many sectors.
The two heads of state held a consultative meeting to review the status of the historic bilateral relations between The Gambia and Senegal and in this regard reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the established Presidential Council aimed at raising to a strategic level, the cooperation between the two countries.
The two leaders reaffirmed the firm commitment of their governments to continue to work together to advance the excellent bilateral relations that happily exist between the two sister republics and in this regard agreed to intensify consultations between the authorities of the two governments to implement the agreements signed on security, defence, forestry and wildlife management, trade, air travel, education, and the judiciary.
The two heads of state also discussed issues and developments at regional, continental, and global levels and agreed to continue consultations and cooperation on issues of shared interest.
The two leaders recognized the two countries’ contributions to peace, security, and development through the Economic Community of West Africa(ECOWAS), the African Union (AU, the United Nations Organization(UN) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
President Barrow renewed his invitation to President Faye for the 15th OIC Summit to be held on 4th and 5th May 2024 in Banjul and thanked the government and people of Senegal for the support provided to ensure the successful hosting of the Summit.
President Faye expressed his heartfelt appreciation to President Barrow and the Government and people of The Gambia for the warm and fraternal welcome as well as the tremendous hospitality accorded him and his delegation and congratulated President Barrow in advance for the hosting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit.
President Faye expressed his appreciation and acceptance to attend the summit in Banjul.
The two heads of state agreed to have regular consultations on issues of mutual interest and to have the next Session of the Senegalo-Gambian Presidential Council in Dakar, Republic of Senegal at dates to be decided later.