By Lamin Kujabi
His Excellency President Adama Barrow last week received in audience the Managing Director of Africa for the European Union External Action Service, Rita Laranjinha at the State House in Banjul.
After her closed door meeting with the President, Rita Laranjinha expressed pleasure in meeting with the President, noting that it was an opportunity to discuss The Gambia’s long-lasting partnership with the European Union (EU) in different areas of collaboration. She added that the EU is a critical partner of The Gambia particularly in the areas of socio-economics, security sector reforms, and transitional justice.
“This partnership dialogue will allow us to go through different areas of our partnership – a long lasting partnership [which is] upon many areas of common interest; from economic, social, transitional justice cooperation to security sector reform. We will listen to our Gambian partners about the situation in the region and the continent overall,” The EU official stated.
Madam Rita Laranjinha went on to affirm that this was a continuation of what they have been doing years ago and to look into the future and address challenges that are still there.
The EU Africa Director was accompanied to State House by the European Union Ambassador to The Gambia, Imma Roca I Cortes; Deputy Head of EU Mission, Raphael Brigandi; the Chief of Staff and Minister for the Presidency, Mod K. Ceesay; Defence Minister Serign Modou Njie; and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Ambassador Lang Yabou.
