Gambia extols USA for reconsideration into MCC

December 23, 2017

By Kebba Jeffang

[caption id="attachment_42563" align="alignleft" width="600"] Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou.[/caption]

The Gambia’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice hailed the United States government for reconsidering the West African state into Millennium Challenge Corporation following 11 years suspension.

The Gambia was suspended in 2006 as a result of persistent human rights violations that was condoned by the former regime of Yahya Jammeh.

“We would like to take this opportunity to express appreciation to the US Millennium Challenge Corporation for recently selecting The Gambia on 19 December 2017 for a Threshold Program,” Aboubacarr Tambadou told journalists at a press conference on Friday.

He said the re-instatement of The Gambia’s eligibility for assistance under the MCC Program is therefore a recognition of the commitment of The Gambia government to correcting each condition for which eligibility for assistance was suspended.

“We are encouraged by this endorsement of our efforts and we will continue to draw strength from this encouragement for the fulfillment of the democratic aspirations of our peoples,” Tambadou said.

The transgressions that led to suspension also included restrictions on political rights, civil liberties, press freedom and anti-corruption.