By: Haddy Touray
President Adama Barrow has described the Senegalo-Gambian Presidential Council as the highest decision-making body guiding renewed cooperation between the two countries.
He made the remarks on Friday at the 4th Senegalo-Gambian Presidential Council held in Dakar.
President Barrow said the framework, established in 2018, has provided a strategic platform to deepen bilateral cooperation, strengthen mutual trust, and accelerate the implementation of agreements aimed at improving the lives and livelihoods of citizens in both countries.
He stressed that The Gambia and Senegal share a common heritage, history, culture, religion, language, and long-standing peaceful coexistence, adding that both nations are bound by “one destiny”.
The Gambian leader said the current global and regional context, marked by challenges such as terrorism, irregular migration, food insecurity, climate change, trafficking, cybercrime, and economic shocks, makes stronger bilateral and regional cooperation more urgent.
He highlighted progress achieved through cooperation between security and administrative agencies, including customs, immigration, transport, defence, and security services, noting that this has improved border management, facilitated movement of goods and people, and strengthened regional stability.
President Barrow also cited the Senegambia Bridge as a symbol of regional integration, saying it has transformed transport, boosted trade, and improved socio-economic links between communities in both countries.
He further pointed to cooperation between transport operators such as the Gambia Transport Service Company and Dakar Dem Dikk as practical examples of integration that directly benefit citizens.
Barrow called for continued efforts to strengthen cooperation in areas including defence and security, trade and investment, agriculture, fisheries, energy, transport, tourism, education, health, youth and sports, culture, environmental protection, digital transformation, and border management.
He also emphasised the need to address trade bottlenecks and administrative barriers to facilitate the smooth movement of people and goods across borders, saying this would unlock economic opportunities for citizens and businesses.
The President commended officials, diplomats, and experts from both countries for their work in advancing bilateral relations and urged that agreed commitments be translated into tangible results for citizens.
Barrow thanked Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and the Senegalese people for their hospitality, describing the relationship between the two countries as a model of African brotherhood and regional integration