By Bubacarr Gaye
His Excellency F. Turker OBA, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye to The Gambia, paid a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister of Interior, Abdoulie Sanyang, at his office in Kotu. This courtesy visit reinforced the spirit of friendship and partnership between the two countries, setting the stage for continuous collaboration in the pursuit of shared goals for stability, development, and peace. It equally underscored the warm diplomatic relations between Turkey and The Gambia, with both parties reaffirming their mutual commitment to development and collaboration in areas of shared interest. The Hon. Minister extended a warm welcome to the Ambassador, commending Turkey for its ongoing support and cooperation in various sectors that contribute to The Gambia’s growth and development.
During the meeting, the Ambassador formally introduced Colonel Carola, a Gendarmerie Officer newly assigned to the Turkish Embassy in The Gambia. He stated that the appointment symbolizes Turkey’s enhanced focus on security and defence collaboration with The Gam bia, particularly as the two countries continue to build stronger frameworks for capacity building and training in public security, law enforcement and counter-terrorism. Hon. Sanyang expressed appreciation of the presence of Colonel Carola and expressed his gratitude to Turkiye for their dedicated assistance, which he said has supported The Gambia in addressing some of its most pressing security challenges. In their discussions, Minister Sanyang and the Ambassador highlighted the importance of capacity building as a means to empower Gambian security personnel with the skills, knowledge, and expertise necessary for effective service delivery.
The Minister also shared with the Ambassador his visionary ideas on transforming The Gambia’s prison system and establishing an Interior Academy that he said would be envisioned as a premier institution dedicated to training Gambian security personnel in modern law enforcement techniques, crisis management, and public safety operations. He outlined his concept to convert the existinjng prison complex into a state-of-the-art correctional centre. “This Academy would serve as a centre of excellence, fostering collaboration with international partners like Turkey to bring the best practices and innovative methodologies to The Gambia’s security sector. Equally, it would address gaps in local training and improve the professional standards of Gambian security personnel, including police, immigration, and correctional officers,” Minister Sanyang alluded.
On his side, the Ambassador expressed his strong support for these transformative ideas and acknowledged the potential impact they could have on The Gambia’s approach to law enforcement and public security. He also indicated Turkey’s willingness to provide technical assistance, training expertise, and resource support to bring these initiatives to fruition. Both diplomats agreed that continued support in this area would be crucial in strengthening The Gambia’s institutional frameworks, enhancing public safety, and fostering sustainable development. Reaffirming that bilateral cooperation between Turkey and The Gambia is expected to focus on areas such as training programs, knowledge exchange and technical assistance. The discussion concluded on a positive note, with both the Hon. Minister and the Ambassador expressing their commitment to deepening the ties between Turkey and The Gambia. They emphasized the importance of continued collaboration, not only in security and capacity building but also in broader areas of socio-economic development.
