Gambiaj.com – (NEW YORK, United States) – The Gambia’s Minister of Defence, Hon. Sering Modou Njie, on Tuesday engaged in high-level discussions with Maj. Gen. Cheryl Pearce, the Military Adviser (MILAD) for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The bilateral meeting focused on enhancing The Gambia’s role in peacekeeping missions and reaffirmed the country’s longstanding commitment to international peace efforts.

Accompanied by Ms. Binta Jeng, Counselor at The Gambia’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Minister Njie emphasized The Gambia’s dedication to contributing effectively to global peacekeeping initiatives. He highlighted the nation’s active participation in peacekeeping missions for over three decades, supported by the United Nations, and expressed gratitude for the continued collaboration.

During the talks, Minister Njie reaffirmed The Gambia’s political commitment to peacekeeping under President Adama Barrow’s leadership, underscoring that the country will continue to make substantial contributions to global peace efforts. He stated that these efforts not only highlight The Gambia’s sense of responsibility toward maintaining international peace and security but also foster stronger cooperative relationships with the UN and other global partners.

A key focus of the discussions was the ongoing co-deployment arrangements between The Gambia and Bangladesh, following a high-level visit in February 2023 by Gambian officials, including Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara and Minister Njie, to Bangladesh. This visit resulted in the signing of a Joint Political Declaration aimed at strengthening cooperation in UN peacekeeping operations. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed, laying the groundwork for technical engagements and future co-deployments.

Minister Njie briefed Maj. Gen. Pearce on the developments since the visit, including a follow-up mission in June 2023 by a Bangladeshi delegation, led by Chief of Army Staff Gen. SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, which included UN officials conducting inspections of Gambian personnel and equipment. The Force Generation Service report from the UN’s remote assessment visit rated The Gambia’s preparations as highly successful.

One of the critical topics discussed was The Gambia’s preparedness in terms of Country-Owned Equipment and the readiness of three trained contingents for deployment. Minister Njie explained that once the major sustenance, as outlined by the UN’s Sustaining Peace Readiness System (SUR), is mobilized, The Gambia will be eligible for elevation to level 2 of the Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS).

Maj. Gen. Pearce commended The Gambia’s commitment to UN peacekeeping missions and expressed her office’s readiness to support the country in its co-deployment initiative. She assured that her office would work closely with The Gambia’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York to ensure the success of these efforts.

The meeting concluded with both sides expressing a high-level commitment to the co-deployment process, reaffirming their shared goal of strengthening global peace and security through cooperative peacekeeping missions.

This meeting marks another milestone in The Gambia’s growing role in international peace efforts, with the nation poised to play an even more significant part in future UN peacekeeping operations.