Gambiaj.com – (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) – His Excellency Mr. Omar Gibril Sallah, the Ambassador of the Republic of The Gambia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has concluded his tour of duty, marking the end of a significant chapter in the diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Ambassador Sallah was received by the Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs and General Supervisor of the Public Diplomacy Deputyship, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, on Tuesday, who lauded his efforts in bolstering the ties between The Gambia and Saudi Arabia. Dr. Al-Rassi commended the ambassador’s dedication to strengthening and advancing the relationship during his tenure.

Prior to this farewell meeting, Ambassador Sallah also paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Alissa, the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), on Sunday. Dr. Al-Issa, who also chairs the Organization of Muslim Scholars, extended his best wishes to Ambassador Sallah for his future endeavors.

Ambassador Sallah’s journey as The Gambia’s envoy to Saudi Arabia began in May 2010 when he was appointed as the successor to Lamin Kiti Jabang. At the time, he held the position of Permanent Secretary at the Personnel Management Office (PMO), and his ambassadorship also covered Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, and the Islamic Conference.

Interestingly, Ambassador Sallah’s tenure was not without its complexities. In 2018, his services were initially terminated, and he was recalled to Banjul. However, in a surprising turn of events, the Gambian government, through the PMO, reinstated him shortly before his departure.

This reappointment reportedly occurred a day after a reported incident at the Gambian embassy in Riyadh. According to sources, a First Secretary, Mr. Saikou Jarju, allegedly attempted to forcibly remove a fax machine from Ambassador Sallah’s office, asserting that the ambassador was no longer in his position.

The situation reportedly escalated, with Mr. Jarju allegedly using disrespectful language towards Ambassador Sallah and threatening to involve the Saudi police. Embassy staff reportedly intervened to restrain and remove Mr. Jarju.

Despite this reported incident, Ambassador Sallah is widely respected within the Gambian diplomatic community. He is recognized as “a man of great dedication and excellence in the civil service as well as a seasoned diplomat in the service of The Gambia.”

His departure marks the end of a notable period in the diplomatic mission, characterized by efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and navigate the complexities of international diplomacy. The Gambia will now look to appoint a new ambassador to continue fostering the relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.