Barrow returns from Senegal visit

By Lamin Cham President Adama Barrow flew back home Friday from Senegal with a Grand National honor and other medals bestowed on him and senior members of his delegation by the republic of Senegal. The President is also upbeat about the special relations between Senegal and the Gambia saying that his two- day visit enabled him to discuss a variety of pertinent issues all within the context of the special relationship between the states. Speaking at the Banjul International Airport on arrival, the President reiterated that Senegal and the Gambia are very close and this was demonstrated in the key role Dakar played in ensuring peace in the Gambia in the wake of the recent political impasse. “I also promised that my first visit out side the Gambia will be to Senegal,” he said. The President also said he was well received by Gambians in Senegal even though he could not have a close meeting with them but their presence was well manifested especially in Kaolack, one of the many towns President Barrow went during the visit. Meanwhile, The Standard also got hold of the joint communiqué issued by the two governments at the end of the visit. The communiqué quoted the two presidents’ desire to raise their two countries’ bilateral relation to a level of strategic partnership. In this contest they decided to establish Presidential Council, which would meet every six months alternately in Banjul and Dakar under the joint chairmanship of the heads of state. According to the communiqué, the two presidents expressed their desire to work towards the rapid completion of the Trans-Gambia Bridge project, juxtaposed border control posts and the Senegambia border Management Commission and gave their relevant ministers the necessary directives to that effect. The full content of the communiqué is reproduced in page 6.]]>