By: Momodou Justice Darboe
Former Gambian diplomat Dr. Momodou Lamin Sidat Jobe passed away in Dakar on Sunday following a long battle with illness.
Dr. Jobe was a consummate diplomat and a distinguished international civil servant.
He served as Jammeh’s foreign minister in the late 90s during which, he played a crucial role in brokering talks between the late Gen. Ansumana Manneh and the Nino Vierra government following a Gen. Manneh-led armed uprising against Nino.
The UDP announced on Sunday that it received with sadness the passing of “His Excellency Dr. Momodou Lamin Sidat Jobe, describing him as a distinguished senior member of the party.
“Dr. Sidat Jobe was a revered statesman, scholar, and diplomat whose lifelong dedication to education, diplomacy, and democracy left an indelible mark on The Gambia and beyond. He served as a Lecturer at the University of Dakar (now Cheikh Anta Diop University) before embarking on a distinguished career at UNESCO, where he contributed significantly until his retirement,” the UDP commiserated.
“His unwavering principles shone during his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Yahya Jammeh’s administration, where he resigned in protest to the expulsion of a British diplomat without his consent. This act of courage defined his commitment to justice, leading him to become a vocal critic of the Jammeh regime. Dr. Sidat Jobe played a pivotal role in mobilizing Gambians in the diaspora to restore democracy, culminating in his appointment as Ambassador of The Gambia to France under the Coalition 2016 government,” added the country’s main opposition party.
The UDP described the late Dr. Jobe as a devoted member of the party’s foreign affairs committee through which, he tirelessly championed the party’s growth and development.
“Dr. Sidat Jobe is survived by his three children, who remain a testament to his legacy of love and service,” stated the party.
