Panafrican News Agency

Guinea Bissau President Cissoko Embalo pledges closer integration

Banjul, Gambia (PANA)  - Guinea Bissau President Umaro Cissoko Embalo Monday pledged his commitment to a borderless bloc of Senegal, Bissau and Banjul, saying it would be ‘a no laissez-passer zone’.

He made the comment while talking to the media after his meeting with President Adama Barrow here as part of a day‘s visit to Banjul.

He told journalists that their discussions centred on ways to take the relations between Banjul and Bissau higher than it already was.

The Guinea-Bissau president-elect stated that cooperation between Bissau and Banjul would be further strengthened in the areas of education, health, agriculture, tourism and culture.

Bissau has a lot to do in those areas with Banjul, and they are ready to learn from Gambia’s business experiences as well as its strengthened security.

He gave the assuranc that better prospects lay ahead of Guinea Bissau as a country, after years of political instability.

“The new generation of Bissau Guineans will not repeat mistakes that keep their population in cycles of conflict for decades,” he added.

He was, however, convinced and optimistic about the trilateral relations between the three countries and for the journey ahead.

President-elect Cissoko Embalo said the visit was a personal one and he was in Banjul to thank President Barrow whom he described as “big brother” both at the personal level and as President of The Gambia.

-0- PANA MSS/RA 13Jan2020