The visit of Adama Barrow to Cote d’Ivoire, the first of a Gambian president in office, has helped define a general framework of cooperation and strengthen relations between the two countries.
At the end of a meeting between the Ivorian Head of State Alassane Ouattara and Gambian President Adama Barrow, on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at the Palace of the Presidency of the Republic, in Abidjan, the two countries signed three cooperation agreements
These agreements include the energy service and air service that will allow airlines operating in both countries to serve Abidjan-Banjul. The third agreement defines the framework of cooperation between the parties to strengthen bilateral relations over five years.
The President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire stressed the need for the two countries to work to strengthen and diversify their relations and to work, within the framework of ECOWAS, for peace, stability and security in the sub-region.
He thanked his host for the “support” given to Cote d’Ivoire within the framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in the resolution of the crisis between the Ivorian state and Mali, following the arrest of 49 Ivorian soldiers in Bamako.
The two Heads of State reviewed the regional news. On the situation in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, they stressed “the need to ensure that these transitions lead to inclusive and democratic elections within
the timeframe accepted by the transition authorities.”
Alassane Ouattara also expressed his desire to see the next presidential elections in the region take place “calmly” and above all in a “democratic and open” manner. Elections will be held in Sierra Leone in June 2023, in Liberia in October and in Senegal next February.
“This visit is a strong sign of my commitment as well as that of my government and the entire Gambian population to see this Ivorian-Gambian cooperation strengthen between our peoples,” President Barrow said.
At the end of this 48-hour visit, Adama Barrow thanked President Alassane Ouattara for his “wisdom” during the transition in his country, which indicates the strengthening of regional cooperation and the “sense of good relations that have been developed.”
AP/fss/abj/APA