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UK FOREIGN MINISTER Boris Johnson has hailed the “very good news” that the Gambia will be rejoining the British Commonwealth.
Johnson made his comments on a visit to the Gambian capital of Banjul but ducked questions about his past praise of British colonialism in Africa.
Johnson met newly elected President Adama Barrow in the impoverished West African nation after years of tension under former president Yahya Jammeh.
Arriving yesterday, Johnson became the first British foreign minister to visit the Gambia since it gained independence from Britain in 1965.
The former London Mayor turned top diplomat told journalists about President Barrow’s intentions to bring he Gambia back into the commonwealth realms
“President Barrow is determined to take Gambia back to the Commonwealth, and the Commonwealth is ready to welcome Gambia back,” Johnson said, vowing to do whatever possible to “speed up” the process.
Barrow worked as a security guard in Britain when he was younger and has made no secret of his wish to rekindle ties.
In a Twitter video released yesterday evening, Johnson celebrated the British embassy soon becoming a High Commission to reflect the Gambia’s return to the Commonwealth fold.
Johnson said that the Gambia had “got rid of a guy who was really holding things up”, a reference to former tyrannical leader Yahya Jammeh.
Johnson joked about the former ruler a number of times during the trip, calling him “Jammeh dodger”.
(Click here if video doesn’t play)
Despite the good-natured meetings between Johnson and Barrow, The Guardian reports that Johnson refused to answer questions from Gambian journalists about articles he’s written previously about British colonialism in Africa.
For example, in a 2002 article in The Spectator, Johnson wrote:
The continent may be a blot, but it is not a blot upon our conscience The problem is not that we were once in charge, but that we are not in charge any more.
In another news column published from 2002, Johnson characterised the Commonwealth as having “crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies,” to welcome Queen Elizabeth II, using a derogatory term for black people that caused outrage.
He also parodied reaction to Tony Blair’s arrival in Congo saying that “the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief touch down”.
Johnson also suggested last year that former US President Barack Obama’s concerns about Brexit were due to the prejudices of a “half-Kenyan”.
Migration
As part of his tour of Africa, Johnson also said tackling the migration crisis was “something that is absolutely vital for Europe as much as Africa.”
Gambia accounts for more citizens per capita taking boats across the Mediterreanan to Italy than any other.
Johnson additionally promised support for justice reform in the Gambia, after the new government declared it would overhaul its prisons after shocking footage was released of conditions inside.
A British special advisor will be appointed to aid the justice ministry and attorney-general as the country reforms a sector tarred by allegations of rights abuses.
In a show of confidence in the Gambian tourist industry, which is dominated by British sunseekers, Johnson took a commercial flight to Banjul.
- With reporting by © – AFP 2017
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Why does the journal keep taking down the comment about FFG aligned MEPs voting for increased military spending in the EU military. It is a fact.
@Cal Mooney: and don’t for the sf MEP who voted for water charges in Europe
@Patrick O Connell: bet you are sorry Journal already ran a fact check on that and found your comment inaccurate. Meanwhile during the same fact check, FFG voted against referenda allowing people to vote to enshrine state ownership of Irish water in the constitution.
@Cal Mooney: don’t vote for the FGFF cartel, time to halt their toxic corrupt stranglehold on Ireland. Continue to vote for these shysters and you will get more of the same.
@Cal Mooney: because the f/g propaganda machine didn’t agree with the comment it shoots it down
@Patrick O Connell: its ok he’s resigning once he’s elected.. what a waste of a vote ,but carry on.
Healy Eames is a candidate. hahahahahahahahahaha
I suspect Ming is actually at work, doing MEP stuff that he is paid to do.
@Patrick O Connell: Rubbish. Get your facts right. He has the best attendece record on the AGRI committee, way ahead of McGuiness and Carty.
@WoodlandBard: I gather there was a blip during Ming’s early member days due to a family matter, but he has since more than made up for it with attendance and participation.
Narrowed to anyone but FFG LIEBOUR…
@Willy: A vote for FG is a vote for Property tax, Vulture funds, IW, PPP, wasting public money, wage increases for themselves and a vote for the other 2 parties is a vote to prop up the FG government. Are people that crazy not to see that?
@TamuMassif2019:
i would doubt that considering these are european elections….
@Tim Pot: No and that is because those in those parties can’t see anything outside of their party, they live in their own party bubble. So every vote they get in their own eyes means that they must be right, in other words people are happy with them and what they are doing. It is the mentality of their political party that causes them to be blind especially when things stay the same with them.
Remember that voting here seems to still be linked in part to the civil war and nothing these parties would do would effect that deep connection and they seem blind to whatever happens beyond that on all sides.
Go on Ming ya boyya!
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: only one that seems to do anything for Ireland. The others just lick the ring of all European parliament parties.
@Mumpsimus: beautifully put, mumps!
Where is Luke?
@KJmadra.: Using the force lol.
I hear Brussels is a good place to get High ….especially on expenses .
@Pl O’neill: let’s hope your FFFG buddies don’t get to enjoy them then
Link to 17 candidates doesnt work, directs to a list of Dublin candidates instead of the 17 for midlands????
FG FF lies about EU army has been well exposed, do not trust these politicians and protect your children and grandchildren.
@@mdmak33:
http://maireadmcguinness.ie/2017/10/12/glyphosate-debate/
Speaking in the European Parliament following a public hearing on ‘The Monsanto Papers and Glyphosate’ she said: “In this hearing we heard nothing new, just a repeat of the scientific evidence and advice from our EU agencies, EFSA and ECHA that Glyphosate is not a carcinogen. This is advice and guidance that I accept.”
“Ming all the way” the corporate ring lickers hate him so he must be doing something right
@Seanboy: not the greatest of strap-lines considering ming also is slang for a bad smell.
I’d rather not meet them. Never have I seen such a undeserving lot.
@Daithi Ó Raghallaigh: if ever they’re were an excuse to spoil……
@Daithi Ó Raghallaigh: You should really run for election yourself
Is Luke too smart to be questioned ?
All I heard is a political star system opinion, like a bad TV show.
@Dominic Leleu: It says Meet your Candi-dates lol.
jeez how am supposed to choose between them a decent candidate would be nice. #toomuchtoaskfor
Just dont vote FF or FG, both support EU army and further integration, and just dont labour for obvious reasons, leave their box on all ballot sheets empty.
@@mdmak33: and voting for the Green is more tax
Maria Walsh is playing a blinder.https://twitter.com/AhNowSeriously/status/1131205864319266816?s=19
She was 3 when Mary Robinson became president. The fakery and neck of Fg is astonishing. And people still vote for them.
Hard to believe Casey was in anyway successful in business, the man is a complete idiot.
I notice that none of the expert commentators on here have ever put themselves forward for anything positive. Outstanding bunch of patriots!!!
Why isn’t Dustin the Turkey running he d do better than this shower he proved it when he did Eurovision hehe
@liam ward60: Proved it by failing to even qualify for the final? Yeah, brilliant.
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