Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Malabo has become a key diplomatic stop for both Senegal and The Gambia, as their leaders seek to strengthen ties with Equatorial Guinea’s long-serving president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. Despite their distinct political and strategic interests, both West African nations have maintained a steady engagement with President Obiang, who continues to host Gambia’s former dictator, Yahya Jammeh.

On April 10, Abdourahmane Sarr, Senegal’s Minister of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation, delivered a special message from President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to Obiang during an audience at the Malabo People’s Palace.

Sarr was accompanied by Senegal’s candidate for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB), who sought guidance from Obiang in his capacity as the current President-in-Office of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC).

The presence of Marcos Mba Ondo, Equatorial Guinea’s Delegate Minister for Foreign Affairs, underscored the significance of the visit.

While Senegal made its diplomatic overture in Malabo, The Gambia has also been actively courting President Obiang. In January, Gambian President Adama Barrow extended a special invitation to Obiang to preside over the opening of the Forum of Operators to Guarantee the Economic Emergency in Africa (FOGECA) in Banjul.

Although Obiang expressed his support for the event, he declined to attend in person, sending high-ranking officials instead.

In what appeared to be an effort to keep relations with Malabo warm, President Barrow went a step further by bestowing a special award on Obiang. He then dispatched a special envoy, Amadou Jagne, to deliver a message to the Equatorial Guinean leader on March 17.

Jagne’s mission was to convey the conclusions and recommendations of the 17th FOGECA Summit and to request Obiang’s assistance in presenting them to the African Union, CEMAC, and other regional organizations.

“You know that the President of Equatorial Guinea is the official patron of FOGECA. That is why President Adama Barrow is sending me today to deliver the conclusions and recommendations of the Banjul Forum 2025 and ask him to transmit them to the African Union, CEMAC, and other organizations on the continent,” Jagne stated after his meeting with Obiang.

While Senegal and The Gambia engage with Obiang in pursuit of their respective diplomatic and economic interests, the lingering presence of former Gambian ruler Yahya Jammeh in Equatorial Guinea adds an underlying tension to the engagements.

Jammeh, who ruled The Gambia for 22 years before being forced into exile in 2017, remains a controversial figure, with calls for his prosecution for alleged human rights abuses growing louder.

Despite this, Banjul and Dakar continue to find it necessary to maintain a working relationship with Malabo, recognizing Obiang’s influence in regional affairs. For now, the Equatorial Guinean leader remains a crucial interlocutor, balancing his role as a statesman while offering safe harbor to a deposed autocrat.