Barrow, Faye co-chair fourth Senegalo-Gambian Presidential Council in Dakar

By Ebrima Fadera 

Edited by: Mutiu Olawuyi 

The fourth Senegalo-Gambian Presidential Council was convened in Dakar on June 12, 2026, under the co-chairmanship of Gambian President Adama Barrow and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, marking another major step in strengthening relations between the two neighboring countries.

The high-level meeting brought together officials from both governments to review progress, adopt new cooperation roadmaps and deepen the strategic partnership between The Gambia and Senegal.

During the council, the two heads of state reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace, security, regional integration and sustainable development. They also emphasized the importance of cooperation that directly improves the lives of citizens on both sides of the border.

The meeting placed renewed focus on the long-standing ties between the two countries, whose geography, culture, families, trade routes and security interests remain closely connected. For many Gambians and Senegalese, cooperation between Banjul and Dakar is not merely diplomatic; it is a daily reality shaped by cross-border movement, commerce, kinship, language, transport and shared community life.

At the ministerial level, Hon. Sering Modou Njie, Gambia’s minister of foreign affairs, international cooperation and Gambians abroad, and his Senegalese counterpart, H.E. Cheikh Niang, presented Roadmap I and Roadmap II. The documents outlined priority areas of bilateral cooperation and were later adopted by the ministerial meeting.

The Presidential Council welcomed progress made in several strategic sectors, including defense and security cooperation, trade facilitation, border management, infrastructure development, energy integration, health, education, culture, tourism, youth development and digital transformation.

The two countries also signed nine bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at expanding cooperation across key areas of mutual interest.

The signing of the agreements reflects a growing recognition that Senegal and The Gambia must continue to coordinate policy and implementation in areas that affect regional stability and citizen welfare. Security cooperation is particularly important in a subregion facing complex challenges, including cross-border crime, trafficking, irregular migration, youth unemployment and regional instability.

Trade and border management also remain central to the relationship. Smoother movement of goods and people can support local businesses, reduce unnecessary delays, strengthen food systems, and improve livelihoods in border communities. Infrastructure and energy cooperation can also help connect communities, reduce isolation and create stronger foundations for economic growth.

The inclusion of health, education, culture, tourism, youth development and digital transformation in the adopted roadmaps shows that the partnership is not limited to state security and diplomacy. It also recognizes people-centered development as the foundation of durable peace and shared prosperity.

At the conclusion of the proceedings, a joint communiqué was adopted and read in both English and French. The communiqué reaffirmed the commitment of The Gambia and Senegal to a future defined by peace, stability, shared prosperity and exemplary regional integration.

The fourth Presidential Council comes at a time when West Africa needs stronger models of neighborly cooperation. For Banjul and Dakar, the challenge now is implementation. Agreements must move from signed documents to visible impact in border towns, ports, schools, hospitals, markets, farms, energy systems and youth opportunities.

The success of the council will therefore be measured not only by diplomatic statements, but by how effectively the two governments convert the roadmaps into practical results for ordinary citizens.

For the Senegambia region, the message from Dakar was clear: the future of The Gambia and Senegal is stronger when both countries work together with trust, coordination and shared responsibility.