State House, Banjul, 17th October 2018 – The Gambia has been admitted as an Observer to the International Organisation of the Francophonie -OIF at the 17th Session of the Francophone Summit recently held in Yerevan, Armenia.
On behalf of the President, the Vice President, His Excellency, Mr Ousainou Darboe, led a delegation to the Summit, where The Gambia along with Ireland, Malta and the State of Qatar were admitted as new members of the Francophonie. The Gambia’s membership to the Francophonie would provide opportunities for enhancing the country’s economic, socio-cultural and political transformation agenda.
The Francophonie Community embodies the values of good governance, democracy, human rights, the rights of the child, empowering women, and harnessing the youth dividend among other things. The 88 member organisation is principally composed of developing countries that are set to promote the ideals of fair play in the world of globalization, in pursuit of the national development agenda of its members.
Members consist of French and non-French speaking countries, and in sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau are examples of the non-French speaking members.
At the Amenian Summit, the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, was elected as the Secretary General of the OIF for the next two years. She replaces the Haitian-born Canadian, Michaelle Jean. The next Summit will be held in Tunis in 2020.
On the sidelines of the Summit, Vice President, Darboe was received by the Prime Minister of Armenia, His Excellency, Nikol Pashinyan, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara signed an agreement formally establishing diplomatic ties between The Gambia and Armenia.
Members of His Excellency’s delegation comprised of the Ambassador of The Gambia to France and his Deputy Head of Mission, Dr Mamadou Sedat Jobe and Dr Mariama John respectively, and Mr Baboucar Dumbuya from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr Cherno Omar Barry, Chair of the Board of Alliance Française de Banjul also attended the Summit.
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Contact:
Amie Bojang-Sissoho
Director of Press & Public Relations
Office of the President, State House, Banjul
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Website: statehouse.gov.gm
3 Comments
Do the Gambia in fact lack the French to deal properly with her sister French Speaking Member States of the ECOWAS?
Gee, in a different article, it is stated that Africa, is “Francophone”! One wonders what this inferiority complex of the French and surrogates is all about… Are there not more important issues for African nation to focus on than this Francophonie rubbish?
Is France not still remaining a thorn in the flesh of Africa by trucks loads of evidence to be the ones behind many civils wars and assassinations in the continent? Why are the French still hellbent on gaining domination and influence in Africa? Damn!, they say it not about France. What is it about for Africans?
Indeed, somewhere in that article from the paper i referred to in the latter, states that Gambia is a member of a regional community of French speaking countries. As simple as that? What a vague claim! The claim seems to have forgotten Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria. Nigeria alone, represents more or less half the population of ECOWAS!
Nonetheless, what colonial language sticks around in African countries, I think it is clear to the world now that this generation of Africans have absolutely no will subduing to standards laid down by the former colonial masters or to be precise, citizens of former British colonies in Africa have demonstrated in this contemporary, their will to emancipate themselves of every form of colonial exploitation. Perhaps Barrow and a bunch are yet to be woken from their snore.
The question is, how many members of cabinet can speak french? Whats the parcentage of gambian french speaker? What will Gambia benefit from joining this team? I think is high time Gambia starts doing thing for themselve and not be dependable.
The question is, how many members of cabinet can speak french? Whats the parcentage of gambian french speaker? What will Gambia benefit from joining this team? I think is high time Gambia starts doing thing for themselve and not be dependable. The french people are harsh and hardless. Please Mr Barrow i think you have sold enough of us, not jus this one. Thanks