The President, His Excellency Adama Barrow, on the sidelines of his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, held a meeting with members of the Gambian community at his hotel in Jeddah. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss challenges affecting Gambians living and studying in the Kingdom.Speaking on behalf of Gambian students, Muhammed Salieu Jeng, Chairman of the Students’ Union, welcomed the President and delegation. He disclosed that 500 Gambian students, including 20 women, are currently enrolled in Saudi universities pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in Islamic Studies, Engineering, and Public Administration.Mr Jeng thanked the Gambian Embassy for its support but appealed to the government to increase scholarship opportunities, expand consular services, and support their initiative to build a library in Jambur.President of The Gambian Association in Saudi Arabia, Manjai Ceesay, appealed for government intervention to facilitate access to residence and work permits to enable Gambians to secure jobs and move freely.Representatives of women in the community, Adama Jallow and Fatumata Jatta, highlighted challenges with Iqama and Nusuk permits. Ms Jallow said many Gambians are denied entry into Makkah during Hajj for lack of permits, restricting movement and business activities.Ms Jatta described the concerns as pressing and urged President Barrow to engage Saudi authorities for favourable terms. She, however, noted that Gambians are widely respected in the Kingdom for being law-abiding and peaceful.She added that the community association remains strong and often supports members in difficult situations through contributions.Consul General in Jeddah, Ebou Ndure, acknowledged the challenges but explained that they affect many communities due to evolving Saudi laws.“As diplomats, we are also guided by strict laws which we must abide by,” Mr Ndure said. He noted that Hajj regulations now require specific documents for entry into Makkah, and the Consulate has no authority to circumvent Saudi immigration procedures.Mr Ndure reassured that the government will continue engaging Saudi counterparts to ease the challenges and will provide consular services in emergencies.Ambassador H.E. Mambury Njie said issues around Iqama and Nusuk also affect Embassy staff. He stated that the Embassy is working on a roadmap to streamline scholarship access and is engaging authorities to facilitate biometric passports.In response, President Barrow underscored the importance of dialogue in addressing community concerns. He thanked Gambians for their patriotism and urged them to reach out to the Embassy and Consulate with issues.The President reminded the community that immigration laws evolve and it is important to adjust to ensure a safe and legal stay.“Our government prioritises the welfare of citizens wherever they may live,” President Barrow said. “We will continue to engage our Saudi counterparts at all levels to secure favourable terms for Gambians.”He encouraged Gambians to return home and take advantage of opportunities, citing major investments in education. Over the last 9 years, he said, the government has transformed the University of The Gambia into a modern institution offering programs up to PhD level with 8,000 students. Technical universities have also been established, with 75% of students on scholarship.President Barrow urged the community to remain united, law-abiding, and hardworking, noting that “every Gambian is an ambassador.”He updated them on developments back home and called for peace ahead of the elections. “The Gambia has secured its place as a bastion of peace and democracy in Africa,” he said, adding that such stability has attracted major investors like Aliko Dangote, who has pledged $2 billion in investments.The President concluded by promising to leave a lasting legacy on national development, saying the foundations for sustained socio-economic growth have already been laid.
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