List of high commissioners of the Gambia to the United Kingdom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids High Commissioner of The Gambia to the United Kingdom |
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Incumbent
Fatou Bensouda since 2022 |
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| Inaugural holder | Louis Francis Valantine |
| Formation | 1965 |
The Gambian High Commissioner in London is a special representative. They act as the official link between the government of The Gambia and the government of the United Kingdom. Their job is to help both countries work together.
Contents
What is a High Commissioner?
A High Commissioner is a top diplomat. They are like an ambassador. But they work between countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. The Commonwealth is a group of countries. Most of these countries were once part of the British Empire.
The High Commissioner's office is called a High Commission. It is similar to an embassy. This office helps Gambian citizens in the UK. It also promotes good relations between The Gambia and the UK.
History of The Gambia's Diplomatic Role
The Gambia became independent in 1965. Since then, it has had a High Commissioner in London. This shows the strong ties between The Gambia and the UK.
The Commonwealth and The Gambia
In 2012, the Commonwealth of Nations talked about important topics. These included human rights and fighting corruption. The Commonwealth Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma, met with The Gambia's leaders.
Later, in September 2013, The Gambia left the Commonwealth. Because of this, their office in London changed. It went from being a High Commission to an embassy. The person in charge became an ambassador.
For example, Mrs. Harding, who was the High Commissioner, became an ambassador. She presented her new credentials on October 23, 2013.
Rejoining the Commonwealth
The Gambia rejoined the Commonwealth in 2018. This happened under President Adama Barrow. When they rejoined, the office in London changed back. It became a High Commission again.
So, the ambassador at that time, Francis Blain, became a High Commissioner. This change happened on February 8, 2018.
People Who Represented The Gambia
Many important people have served as The Gambia's top diplomat in London. They have worked to build strong connections. Here is a list of some of them:
| When they started | Representative's Name | Term end |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Louis Francis Valantine | 1968 |
| 1971 | Bocar Ousman Semega-Janneh | 1980 |
| 1980 | Omar A. Secka | 1982 |
| 1982 | Abdullah Mamadu Kalifa Bojang | 1983 |
| 1983 | Almad Tijan Sallah | 1984 |
| 1984 | Samuel Jonathan Okikiola Sarr | 1987 |
| 1988 | Horace Reginald Monday jr. | 1991 |
| 1992 | Mohammadou N. Bobb | 1995 |
| 1998 | John Paul Bojang | 2000 |
| 2001 | Gibril Seman Joof | 2006 |
| April 2007 | Elizabeth Ya Eli Harding | 2017 |
| 2017 | Francis Blain | 2022 |
| 2022 | Fatou Bensouda |
