The British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Tuesday said that he is excited about the ‘new’ Gambia which has experienced a change in government democratically for the first time in many years.
Mr. Johnson also said that the United Kingdom was going to support the Gambia in the areas of education, economy and tourism to aid in its transformation.
This is the first time in many years that a British foreign secretary is visiting the country. The previous regime under longtime leader Yahya Jammeh had a frosty relationship with the UK.
Mr. Jammeh in 2013 pulled the country out of the Commonwealth branding it a “neo-colonial institution” since it was a grouping of former colonies of Britain.
The new president of the Gambia, Adama Barrow is seeking the re-admission of the country to the Commonwealth.
Today I held talks with the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Gambia will rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations very soon. #Gambia pic.twitter.com/oCWn0wCtAS
— Adama Barrow (@adama_barrow) February 14, 2017
Mr. Johnson told journalists in Banjul that the UK will as “as fast as possible” work at re-admitting the Gambia into the Commonwealth.
“We are going to admit them as fast as possible. Last night I talked to the Commonwealth secretary general, and she is determined to speed it up and get it done as soon as possible,” He added.
Mr. Johnson said his meeting with President Barrow was fruitful and signals a new dawn in relations between the UK and the Gambia.
The British foreign secretary will continue his Africa tour in Ghana on Wednesday.
Watch below Mr. Johnson’s meeting with the media in Banjul:
Source: Africafeeds.com
