Foroyaa was the first newspaper in The Gambia that interviewed president elect Macky Sall when he won the first round in the 2012 election in Senegal. He indicated then that Gambia would be his first port of call upon his ascension to office in 2012.
The ties between the two governments became closer in 2017 when President Barrow assumed office at the head of a coalition government which was supported by Ecowas with Senegal playing a supportive role.
A dramatic change of government on the 2nd of April 2024 did not alter the state to state ties between the two countries. The presence of President Adama Barrow at the inauguration of President Diomaye Faye and his visit to The Gambia sixteen days after assuming office did draw interest and curiosity as to whether the state to state relation would be the same or would be altered.
The words of the two presidents reveal the type of relation that is anticipated by the two heads of state. According to President Diomaye Faye, he has decided to pay a friendly visit to The Gambia in order to continue where President Macky stopped. He argued that despite the flags and national anthem, it is the people of the two countries who matter and promised to work towards strengthening the relation between the two countries.
According to President Barrow, Gambia is a reliable partner as far as bilateral and multi lateral relationships are concerned. He recalled and expressed gratitude on the role Senegal had played to enable The Gambia to handle its impasse and called for the strengthening of the Senegalo Gambia Secretariat to promote the strengthening of bilateral relation. He called on Senegal to give support to The Gambia in hosting the OIC summit.
It is therefore clear that the two heads of state have opted for continuity instead of reinventing the bilateral relation between the two countries.
