Gambia’s Ambassador to Turkey, Alkali Conteh, has issued a strongly worded open letter criticising the country’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, over comments made during a recent public forum on the state of the foreign service.

The letter, published following Tangara’s appearance on the “Mansa Kunda” town hall programme on 16 May 2025, challenges the minister’s remarks concerning political appointees within diplomatic missions, and accuses him of selective criticism and poor leadership.

Dr. Tangara had used the platform to outline Gambia’s foreign policy priorities and address challenges facing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the discussion, he questioned the qualifications and conduct of certain diplomats, suggesting that many were appointed based on political loyalty rather than merit.

In response, Ambassador Conteh described the remarks as “erroneous” and an unjust attack on political appointees, many of whom, he argued, have both the academic background and professional experience necessary for their roles.

“Why single out the foreign service when you know that the majority of those appointed… might have served our country in one way or another?” Conteh asked in the letter.

He went on to accuse Dr. Tangara of scapegoating diplomats while ignoring the Foreign Ministry’s own failures to manage disputes within missions.

 Referencing disciplinary incidents involving Gambian diplomats in Morocco and Cuba, Conteh claimed that the ministry failed to act on early warning signs.

“If your ministry had taken the responsibility to address these issues promptly, then the scandals would have been abated,” he said. “The blame squarely falls on your head.”

Conteh also pointed to a 2021 incident in Washington, D.C., where four Gambian diplomats were expelled by the U.S. for alleged criminal activity.

He criticised Tangara for not addressing the case publicly, suggesting that those involved were “anointed diplomats.”

He further highlighted a reported physical altercation in New York involving Dr. Tangara himself, who was said to have clashed with a demonstrator during the UN General Assembly, an incident that drew international media attention but did not result in any formal consequences.

In addition to concerns over appointments and accountability, Conteh criticised what he described as the ministry’s failure to engage with the Gambian diaspora.

He said the Foreign Ministry had not convened a single meeting, virtual or in-person, with ambassadors or high commissioners since 2017.

He also raised questions about the ministry’s silence on matters such as diaspora voting rights, parliamentary representation, and the eligibility of dual citizens for cabinet or legislative roles.

“These are winnable goals with a committed and dedicated representation at your level,” he wrote, questioning whether the minister opposed such proposals.

Dr. Tangara has not publicly responded to the ambassador’s criticisms. The Gambian government has not yet issued a statement addressing the concerns raised.

By Adama Makasuba