By Fatou Krubally
The National Assembly Tuesday ratified a visa exemption agreement between The Gambia and Gabon covering holders of diplomatic and service passports, paving the way for easier official travel between the two countries.
The agreement, tabled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Sering Modou Njie, allows eligible passport holders to enter, exit, transit through and stay in either country without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Moving the motion, Njie said the agreement was part of efforts to strengthen longstanding relations between The Gambia and Gabon and facilitate greater official exchanges.
He said it followed Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s state visit to The Gambia from July 30 to August 2, 2026, during which the two countries signed several instruments aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation.
These included a general cooperation framework, an agreement establishing the Gambia-Gabon Joint Commission for Cooperation, the visa exemption agreement and a memorandum on political and diplomatic consultations.
During the debate, several lawmakers welcomed the agreement but questioned why ordinary passport holders had not been included.
They argued that extending visa-free travel to ordinary Gambians could promote trade, tourism, investment and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
The Member for Foni Brefet, Amie Kolleh, also asked whether Gabonese citizens travelling to The Gambia would require visas, while other lawmakers urged the government to pursue a broader visa exemption arrangement.
Responding, Njie said the issue of ordinary passport holders had been discussed during consultations with the Gabonese side, but the two countries agreed to begin with diplomatic and service passport holders.
He described the current agreement as a first step, saying negotiations could subsequently be extended to other categories of travelers.
Njie disclosed that more than 2,000 Gambians currently reside in Gabon, compared with only eight Gabonese citizens in The Gambia.
He said the agreement would facilitate official engagement and support cooperation in areas including trade, investment, tourism, education and culture.
The minister also explained that the agreement contained provisions allowing either country to deny entry or terminate the stay of a national of the other country on grounds including national security, public order and public health.
The National Assembly subsequently approved the motion without opposition.
The Speaker commended the Foreign Affairs Ministry for bringing the agreement before the Assembly less than two months after the state visit.
The ratification provides the formal basis for implementing the visa exemption arrangement for eligible diplomatic and service passport holders of The Gambia and Gabon.