The President-elect of Guinea Bissau Umaro Cissoko Embalo on Monday, January 13th embarked on a day’s state visit to The Gambia. He was received at the Banjul International Airport by the Gambian Vice President Dr Isatou Touray and some other government officials, before he headed to the State House to meet his Gambian counterpart President Adama Barrow.
Mr Embalo told the press at airport that Gambia and Senegal are Guinea Bissau's strategic allies and so they should work together to ensure peace and stability in the sub-region.
As far as cooperation between Banjul and Bissau is concerned, he mentioned education, agriculture and security as priorities. He expressed his desire for educational exchange, whereby teachers from his country will come to Gambia to teach Portuguese and Gambian teachers go to Guinea Bissau to teach English.
The newly elected leader also declared his government's plan to make residence permit free for Gambians living in Guinea Bissau.
Commenting on his country's politically turbulent past, the former prime minister said that was a mistake that is not meant to be repeated, as he is resolved to help the country turn a new page and ensure peace and stability.
Mr Mbalo, 47, defeated his finalist opponent Domingos Simoes Peirera, also ex-prime minister, in the run-off held on 29th December 2019, after the latter headed the race in the first round but without a clear majority. Mr Peirera contested the result at the court but ex-Army General Mbalo told Gambian journalists that he has been cleared by the country's apex court as the legitimate winner. He said he will invite President Barrow to his inauguration.