Foreign Affairs Minister Says Diplomatic Passport Data Cannot Be Fully Disclosed

By Fatou Sillah

The Gambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad, Sering Modou Njie, told the National Assembly that the government cannot publicly disclose full details about foreign nationals issued Gambian diplomatic passports, citing confidentiality obligations and national interest concerns.

Mr. Njie made the remarks during a question-and-answer session in response to a query from Omar Jammeh, the National Assembly member for Janjanbureh. Mr. Jammeh had asked the ministry to provide a comprehensive list of foreign citizens who were granted Gambian diplomatic passports between 2017 and 2025, including their status and documentation supporting their applications.

In his response, Mr. Njie said releasing such information could violate confidentiality requirements and diplomatic norms.

“The public disclosure of detailed personal data, application documents, and status particulars may risk breaching confidentiality obligations and undermining established diplomatic norms, and potentially affecting the national interest of The Gambia,” he said.

Mr. Njie said diplomatic passports are issued only to individuals whose official roles require them to represent the country’s interests.

“Diplomatic passports are issued to clearly defined categories of persons whose duties, responsibilities, or official assignments require them to represent and advance the national interests of the Republic of The Gambia,” he said.

He added that foreign nationals may receive such passports only under exceptional circumstances, particularly when their work is considered beneficial to the country. “In exceptional cases and strictly where it is demonstrably in the national interest, foreign nationals who provide strategic services to The Gambia or who are formally engaged by the government in an official capacity may be considered for the issuance of diplomatic passports,” he said.

The process, he said, requires approval from the president and involves both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior.

Mr. Njie said the issuance of diplomatic passports is governed by established legal and administrative procedures and is carried out only when deemed to be in the best interests of the country.