The leaders of the Gambia and Ivory Coast have signed a bilateral agreement to co-operate on issues of national, sub-regional, African and global interests. The signing of the communiqué took place in the Gambian capital Banjul on July 22  on the occasion of the anniversary of  President Yajah Jammeh's coup which toppled Jawara's civilian regime. 

 The embattled Ivorian president, Laurent Gbagbo, who was a guest of honour at a State Banquet thrown by his Gambian counterpart Yayah Jammeh, was awarded the Grand Commander of the National Order of the Republic of the Gambia.

 In his response, President Gbagbo thanked his Gambian counterpart and the people of Gambia for the honour bestowed on him. He expressed his admiration of President Jammeh's personality and the beauty of The Gambia. “I did not know a lot about The Gambia but I have discovered a fighter. We no longer have many great fighters at the top of African Governments,” he said.

 President Gbagbo then paid homage to some African heroes, including Ahmad Sekou Touray, William Tobman and Felix Houphet-Boigny, whom he had described as visionary leaders for their countries and Africa.

 He however expressed his displeasure with the new dispensation of assuming power by use of force. “Unfortunately, we no longer know what justice is all about. Because we do not speak the truth,” he said.

President Gbagbo pointed out that crises in Africa take long to solve, because of the failure to speak the truth. However, he expressed his optimism that there is light at the end of the tunnel. “Thank God, we will get out of it,” he said.

 “I want Africans to be careful. They should not allow anybody to laugh at the misfortune of another person. We either survive together, or we submerge and disappear together”.

 President Gbagbo then invited President Yahya Jammeh to visit Cote D'Ivoire. “ I do admire what he has achieved in The Gambia. I also want him to see what we are trying to do in Cote D'Ivoire, he said.

 Gbagbo  then switched to the three Beauty Queens, who had dined, alongside other distinguished personalities with the two Presidents, saying “a continent without beauty is a dead continent”. The Beauty Queens were also conferred with the award of the Member of the Republic of The Gambia (MRG) National Honour.

 He then called on Africans to unite and exercise tolerance regardless of religion or ethnicity, saying “our strength lies in our diversity”.

 At the bilateral level, the two Heads of State expressed satisfaction at the excellent relations that exist between the two sister counties and reiterated their determination to further strengthen these bonds in the interest of the two peoples and countries. In this regard, the two Heads of State instructed their respective Governments to work together for the establishment of a Joint Ministerial Commission. The two Heads of State stressed the need for the private sectors of The Gambia and Cote D'Ivoire to work together to further strengthen their economic and commercial cooperation.

 At the sub-regional level, the two Heads of State reaffirmed their support for the consolidation of the democratisation process in Guinea Bissau and urged the international community to provide the necessary assistance for the consolidation of peace and normalcy in that sister republic.

 Regarding the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the two Heads of State noted with satisfaction the efforts of His Excellency Col Ely Ould Mohammed Vall to speedily return the Republic of Mauritania to constitutional rule.

 Concerning Liberia, the two Heads of State welcomed the election of the first African female President, Her Excellency Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and pledged their full support for the reconstruction of Liberia and the consolidation of peace and national reconciliation.

 The two Heads of State expressed concern over the escalation of violence in the Middle East especially in Lebanon, and called on all sides to exercise restraint, and engage in dialogue with a view to ensuring a peaceful and lasting solution. They reaffirmed their condemnation of terrorism everywhere in the world.