His Excellency, President Adama Barrow on Friday, June 6th, joined Gambians and the global Muslim Ummah to commemorate the Islamic feast of Eid-ul Adha locally called Tobaski.
Delivering his presidential traditional Eid message, sent heartfelt greetings to all Muslims in The Gambia and across the global Islamic community. He said Tobaski commemorates the profound devotion and exemplary faith demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim. He said it serves as a powerful reminder of the values of sacrifice, obedience, and compassion that are central to our faith. He reminded us that the spirit of Eid al-Adha requires us to embrace such values and demonstrate gratitude to Allah for His boundless mercies and blessings.
The President took the opportunity to offer special prayers and warm wishes to all pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and congratulated them on their fulfilment of the Islamic pillar of performing the pilgrimage to Mecca.
President Barrow admitted that as the current Chairman of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, he is deeply troubled by the conflicts in several Member States. “Islam is fundamentally a religion of peace, so it is with deep concern that we helplessly watch the unjust suffering of our Muslim brothers and sisters in various regions of the globe,” he stated.
He went on to refer to the conflicts in Sudan, India and Pakistan and Israel’s war in Gaza, calling on their governments to “silence their weapons and engage in genuine dialogue as the way forward,” warning that the ongoing conflicts have inflicted untold suffering upon innocent civilians.
On the prevailing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza the Gambian leader and OIC chair called upon Israel to cease its military operations and ensure unhindered access for humanitarian aid to reach the civilian population in Gaza. “They are going through unbearable hardship! As members of the global community, we cannot remain silent in the face of such atrocities and excessive human suffering”.
While welcoming the lifting of sanctions on Syria, which he recognises offers a crucial opportunity for its new government to rebuild the nation and restore its standing within the international community, President Barrow pointed out that reconciliation and reconstruction must now be prioritised to heal the wounds caused by their prolonged civil war.
On the home front, the President expressed gratitude to Gambians for their unwavering commitment to peace and harmony, which he said has been instrumental in stabilising our beloved nation. He however warned that peace must never be taken for granted cautioning Gambians to take the cue from the untold consequences of the conflicts around the globe. “
We must remember that the remarkable advancements recorded in the country are a direct result of our collective commitment to peaceful coexistence. I call upon all citizens and residents of The Gambia to continue upholding the rule of law and accord the highest respect to the democratic and oversight institutions that safeguard our democracy”.
The President pledged that his administration will remain sensitive and positively responsive to public concerns and aspirations and assured that accountability and transparency will continue to guide their governance approach. He, however, cautioned that his Government will not tolerate actions with the intent to destabilise the country under any pretext and that they will face the full force of the law.
