Gambia: Foreign Affairs Minister Tangara Meets US Ambassador on alleged Diplomatic Passport Scandal

By Bakary Ceesay

As part of his regular diplomatic consultation, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, on Monday 30 December 2019 met the Ambassador of the United States of America to The Gambia, Richard C. Paschall, in his office in Banjul.

In his welcoming remark,Dr.Tangara thanked Ambassador Paschall for the normal diplomatic exchanges. During the meeting, the two sides discussed and shared views on bilateral and international issues. 

Ambassador Paschall used the opportunity to thank Dr.Tangara, for organising a briefing on the alleged Diplomatic passport scandal for the Diplomatic and Consular Corps.

Ambassador Paschall further thanked the Government of The Gambia for taking the alleged Diplomatic passport saga very seriously. He however urged the Government to update the Diplomatic Community regarding the status of the investigation.

It could be recalled that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised a briefing session with members of the Diplomatic and Consular corp on the 16 September 2019 to update them on the status of investigation in connection with the Diplomatic passport scandal.

During this briefing, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, used the occasion to inform the Diplomatic community regarding the current structure put in place relating to the issuance of official passport and entitlements and privileges accorded to Representatives of International Community in The Gambia.

The Honourable Minister also highlighted the Government’s resolve to get to the bottom of the matter and resolve the matter accordingly.