By: Binta Jaiteh
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation & Gambians Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, has informed lawmakers that the government has issued over 3000 diplomatic passports from 2017 to 2024.
Dr. Tangara was responding to a parliamentary question posedby Banjul South NAM Fatoumatta Njie about the number ofpeople issued diplomatic passports from January 2017 to date and the criteria for issuing the document.
The foreign minister explained that diplomatic passport isissued based on criteria established by government, stating that people entitled to have the passport includes senior government officials, lawmakers, special appointments, presidential and government advisers.
“The president has the powers to approve the issuance of diplomatic passport to any individual at his discretion,” he added.
Nominated Member Fatoummata K. Jawara asked whether the law has provided for a single person to acquire two diplomatic passports at the same time and Minister Tangara responded that there is no crime in that stating: “I have two diplomatic passports for the fact that sometimes, you travelled and another passport is sent for a mission for a visa, bearing the same name,” he added.
Another nominated member Kebba Lang Fofana also asked whether it is lawful for a person to have two diplomatic passport, using different names but Dr. Tangara advised him to direct the question to the attorney general and minister of justice.
