Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The long-standing town twinning between Ostend, Belgium, and Banjul, The Gambia, will officially come to an end this year after more than two decades of cooperation. The Ostend city council, under pressure from right-wing political groups, justified the decision by citing concerns over questionable expenditures in Banjul allegedly funded by Ostend’s contributions.

The partnership between the two cities focused on various development areas, including urban greening, climate adaptation, waste management, social inclusion, education, digitization, and innovation. It also facilitated exchange programs and material support. In 2019, an additional €3 million in EU subsidies was allocated to support Banjul’s development.

Ostend Councilor Maxim Donck of the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA), a right-wing party advocating for greater Flemish autonomy, confirmed the decision. “We will ensure proper aftercare for Banjul so that the progress made over the past five years is not entirely lost. However, the town twinning will be phased out and officially discontinued by the end of this year,” Donck stated.

Allegations of Misuse and Political Pressure

Earlier this year, the opposition party Vlaams Belang, a right-wing populist party in Flanders, alleged that EU funds allocated to Banjul had been misused. The party claimed that portions of the funds were spent on extravagant meetings at resorts and unnecessary expenses such as the purchase of curtains for the Banjul mayor’s office, reportedly costing €1,176.

“If you consider that the average monthly salary of a city employee in Banjul is barely €150, this is absurd,” said Tom Lamont, a Vlaams Belang executive in Ostend.

Lamont further accused Banjul officials of failing to provide reports for city-funded meetings and misusing subsidies intended for waste management infrastructure. “We allocated funds for waste containers, but they were never installed. That money was used elsewhere. The town twinning has lost its credibility,” he argued. Vlaams Belang subsequently called for legal action to terminate the partnership.

Cautious Approach from the Ostend Council

While Ostend Councilor Maxim Donck of the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie was also critical of the expenditures in Banjul, he urged caution in severing ties to avoid potential legal and financial repercussions from the EU. “The collaboration with Banjul costs us €200,000 annually, and our city is already €260 million in debt. Some expenses in Banjul are questionable, to say the least. But we must be careful—we are in the reporting phase with the European Commission regarding the subsidies. I do not want the city to face financial claims,” Donck explained.

He also questioned the relevance of some projects funded through the twinning program, citing a €5,000 investment in a radio studio in Banjul. “What is the added value of building a radio studio in The Gambia? It doesn’t benefit the local population in any significant way,” he said.

Final Vote to End Twinning

On February 28, the Ostend city council officially voted to terminate the twinning agreement with Banjul, redirecting funds toward local priorities such as childcare and support for young people with disabilities. The vote was backed by the two main right-wing political formations in the city, marking the end of a partnership that spanned more than 20 years.

Banjul City Council’s Response to Accusations Made by Right-Wing Politicians in Ostend

Reacting to the allegations made by the right-wing councillors of Ostend, the city of Banjul, through the office of the mayor, made this public announcement: ”In the wake of the unfounded and reckless allegation of misuse of EU funds by Maxim Donck, New Alderman of the City of Ostend responsible for International Relations, and despite the stern rebuttal from the Advisory Board on International Relations, the Banjul City Council is extremely concerned with such unilateral and malicious bad publicity, and in light of the allegation, is convening a press conference to set the record straight and highlight our commitment to the City Link Partnership for Sustainable City Development.”

The BCC rebuttal press conference is scheduled for Tuesday in Banjul.