GAMBIA: PRESIDENT BARROW SAYS GAMBIA ALMOST BECAME A FAILED STATE!!

Dr. Mamadou Tangara, the minister of Foreign Affairs International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad on behalf of the president of the Republic of The Gambia has stated that in The Gambia, we have every reason to be proud of ECOWAS and every reason therefore to celebrate this year.

“Undoubtedly, we have become a beneficiary of the many areas of support and assistance provided by ECOWAS. Not least is the area of peace that was restored in the wake of the political impasse in 2016,” he said.

Tangara was speaking at the occasion of the 43rd ECOWAS day celebration in The Gambia held at the Independence Stadium in Bakau. He said through the intervention of ECOMIG, we have seen and enjoyed significant peace dividends without which The Gambia could have been another example of chaos and instability and possibly a failed state.

The Foreign Affairs minister underscored the importance of ECOWAS as an organisation whose mandate primarily is to promote economic and social integration of West African States and in this way ensure closer coordinated ties of cooperation between and among the ECOWAS states.

“Since its creation, ECOWAS has been relentless in the pursuit of unity and integration within the sub region and I am sure we are all witnesses to the tremendous strides taken over the years in this endeavour,” he said.

According to him, as a regional bloc, we are also witnesses to the active role that ECOWAS through the very many initiatives it has launched since its creation, has been championing in virtually every sphere of the political, economic and social lives of nation states and the citizenry, saying that key among these are the areas of peace building, promoting democracy, good governance and the rule of law as well as reinforcing peace, security and stability.

“I would like to take this opportunity again to express my gratitude to all ECOWAS member states for providing solidarity with The Gambia and all for the united decision to come in and save us from carnage.”

“My Government will forever remain grateful. We will ensure that the dividends from ECOWAS ‘ actions are sustained, and here I want to make particular reference to the comprehensive security sector reform that my Government is embarking on with the view to building greater professionalism in, as well as the requisite capacity in our security sector.”

Author: Momodou Jawo

Source: Picture: Dr. Mamadou Tangara