By Seedy Jobe
The Gambia’s Foreign Minister, Sering Modou Njie, called for stronger international cooperation on Sunday as he addressed fellow diplomats at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in London, warning that growing pressures on multilateral institutions are reshaping the global political landscape.
Speaking to foreign ministers from across the Commonwealth of Nations, Mr. Njie said the gathering came at a critical moment when the international system is facing increasing geopolitical tensions and challenges to multilateral engagement.
“The global landscape is undergoing profound change,” Mr. Njie said, noting that while multilateralism is under strain in many parts of the world, cooperation and dialogue among nations remain essential to addressing shared challenges.
His remarks coincided with International Women’s Day, which he used to recognize the contributions of women leaders and women worldwide whose roles continue to strengthen institutions and societies.
Mr. Njie also highlighted The Gambia’s relationship with the Commonwealth since the country rejoined the organization eight years ago, citing what he described as significant institutional and technical support.
According to the minister, the assistance has helped the West African nation strengthen democratic governance and public institutions, including support for implementing the Commonwealth Cyber Declaration and advancing sustainable development initiatives.
He said the Commonwealth has also supported reforms in public financial management through the use of the Meridian Debt Management System, a tool used by several member states to improve debt monitoring and fiscal oversight.
Mr. Njie credited the organization with assisting The Gambia’s judicial sector and helping reinforce democratic credibility through election observation missions during the country’s 2021 elections.
Those missions, he said, contributed to strengthening transparency and public confidence in the electoral process following the country’s political transition in recent years.
The minister said such cooperation has played a key role in supporting The Gambia’s national development priorities and expanding its engagement within the broader Commonwealth network.
The Commonwealth, he added, occupies a distinctive place in the international system by bringing together countries from different regions, cultures, and levels of development under shared commitments to democratic values and mutual support.
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