By: Fatou Krubally
Türkiye has reaffirmed its expanding partnership with The Gambia, reviewing key achievements recorded in 2025 and outlining priority areas for cooperation in 2026, the Turkish Ambassador to The Gambia, Turker Oba, said Friday.
Addressing journalists at a breakfast press conference at his residence in Brufut Gardens, Ambassador Oba described 2025 as a year of “qualitative advancement” in bilateral relations, underpinned by mutual trust and strong political commitment from Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Adama Barrow.
On defence and security, he recalled the handover of 17 Cobra-1 Armoured Personnel Carriers to The Gambia in January 2025, valued at about 280 million dalasis. The equipment, he said, was intended to support The Gambia’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations and was accompanied by maintenance training and spare parts.
He added that dozens of Gambian Armed Forces and police personnel are currently undergoing long-term training in Türkiye, with additional capacity-building programmes planned for 2026.
Politically, Ambassador Oba said bilateral engagement was strengthened through high-level visits and close coordination at international forums. He commended The Gambia’s leadership during its chairmanship of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), particularly on the Palestinian and Rohingya issues.
He disclosed that Türkiye recently contributed an additional 200,000 US dollars to support The Gambia’s case at the International Court of Justice.
In the area of development cooperation, the ambassador said the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) implemented 13 projects in 2025, covering health, vocational training, judicial support, climate action training, and prison rehabilitation.
He said new initiatives are in the pipeline, including support for women farmers, fisheries infrastructure, sanitary pad production workshops, and the planned Gambia–Türkiye Friendship Park in Banjul.
Economic relations, according to Ambassador Oba, continued to grow steadily, with bilateral trade exceeding 66 million US dollars in the first 11 months of 2025. Turkish companies have expanded investments in ferry services, port development, energy, and tourism.
He also announced that Turkish Airlines has increased its Istanbul–Banjul flights from three to six per week, boosting connectivity and tourism.
On education and culture, Ambassador Oba said Turkish language courses are now offered at the University of The Gambia, while the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre, operational since April 2025, has hosted a range of cultural, culinary, and literary activities.
He said 39 Gambian students received Türkiye Scholarships in 2025, bringing the total number of Gambian students studying in Türkiye to more than 300.
The ambassador concluded by reaffirming Türkiye’s commitment to deepening cooperation with The Gambia in 2026 “in the spirit of friendship, respect and shared progress.”