Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad Sering Modou Njie called on the international community to work on breaking the siege on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave.
He underlined Saudi Arabia’s efforts, along with France, in encouraging international support for the recognition of the State of Palestine and implementation of the Two-State Solution which should lead to a sustainable political solution that bolsters peace in the region.
He congratulated Saudi Arabia and France on successfully co-chairing the UN High – Level Conference on Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in New York in July.
In an interview to Asharq Al-Awsat, Njie said: “The Gambia calls for the full adoption of the New York Declaration and its annex by the Member States of the United Nations, before the beginning of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September this year.”
“Moreover, The Gambia renews its commendation and full alignment with the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution initiated by Saudi Arabia. We believe that the great efforts of the Kingdom in championing the mobilization of the needed international support in this regard is gaining significant dividend,” he added.
“We have heard the recent positive proclamations by various world leaders and UN Member States expressing their countries’ intention to recognize the State of Palestine as a fully independent and sovereign state during the upcoming General Assembly and the imminent unanimous adoption of the New York Declaration and its annex,” he went on to say.
The Gambia and Saudi Arabia, as well as the Muslim Ummah believe that the best option for a peaceful and durable settlement of this prolonged dispute between the Palestinians and Israel is a peace accord based on the Two-State Solution guaranteeing both states their legitimate and inalienable rights to full sovereignty and self-determination, within an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust and confidence, he stressed.
“The Gambia therefore, in her capacity as Chair of the 15th Organization of Islamic Cooperation Islamic Summit, reiterates its call for the continued mobilization of support for a full global recognition and UN membership of the State of Palestine,” Njie said.
‘Genocidal’ situation
On Gaza, he stated: “Anyone who is truly compassionate and believes in the principles of justice, humanity, human rights and International Law will definitely categorize what is currently happening in the Gaza Strip and the entire Palestinian Territory as unacceptable, inhumane, genocidal and catastrophic.”
“Israeli forces and authorities still continue to launch unprecedented military aggression against the people of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, committing various war crimes, genocide, and forceful multiple displacements of the Palestinian people,” he warned.
“It is unfortunate and terrifying to see many children being orphaned or separated from their families, facing trauma and subjected to lack of access to education, health facilities, shelter, sanitation and food, causing long-lasting effects on their development and the future stability of the State of Palestine and the region.”
Njie continued: “The humanitarian catastrophe is devastating, with far-reaching consequences not only for the region but also for the Muslim Ummah and the international community at large. The blockage and obstruction of humanitarian aid including repeated targeting of aid convoys and humanitarian workers by the Israeli forces constitute blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law, as prohibited under the relevant Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols as well as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.”
“The catastrophe in Gaza calls for an urgent and coordinated international response to alleviate human suffering, protect human rights, and foster a durable peace that addresses the root causes of the conflict,” he demanded.
“It is therefore absolutely crucial for all the members of the international community to come together in full solidarity and unity to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those that are in need in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and work towards a sustainable political solution that promotes peace and security for all the people in the region,” the minister urged.
On the outcomes he hopes for of the extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, he replied: “The 21st Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC is very timely and crucial in the sense that we are converging once again to urgently consider and address the situation of the Palestinian people, after almost two years of devastation, destruction, oppression and terror against the people of the Gaza Strip and the Palestinians.”
“The meeting is expected to produce concrete implementable outcomes that are meant to positively change the lives and livelihoods of our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” Njie said. “The people of Palestine and those in Gaza in particular have suffered enough. We must act now and consolidate our resolve to address the plight of the Palestinian people and defend the image and status of Jerusalem.”
Saudi-Gambian relations
On ties with Saudi Arabia, Njie said: “The long-lasting and existing excellent relations between the Kingdom and The Gambia are built on a foundation of mutual respect, solidarity, and shared Islamic culture, tradition and brotherhood.”
“Impressive efforts are being made by the leadership of the two countries to further consolidate and strengthen the existing fruitful relations at the bilateral and multilateral levels,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“The Gambia warmly expresses its profound gratitude to the Kingdom for its continued, invaluable support, which was instrumental in the country’s successful assumption of the Chairmanship of the 15th OIC Islamic Summit. We also recognize and commend the Kingdom's pivotal and invaluable support for The Gambia’s national development initiatives,” he added.
Furthermore, the minister said The Gambia warmly welcomes, with appreciation, the Kingdom's recent decision to establish and open a resident Saudi Embassy in Banjul, aimed at consolidating the diplomatic and political relations between the countries.
“In a bid to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and to significantly enhance trade, investment, and commercial activities between our two brotherly countries, the Government of The Gambia unilaterally decided, in year 2024, to abolish entry visas to The Gambia for all Saudi nationals,” he the minister revealed.
“The status of the existing excellent relations between the two countries was further reviewed and discussed during my recent engagement with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah on August 25,” he continued.
“An agreement was made for us to closely work together to further enhance our bilateral cooperation in the economic and commercial fields for the mutual benefit of our two countries and peoples.”
