Dr. Momodou Lamin Sidat Jobe, a prominent Gambian diplomat, has passed away in Dakar, Senegal, after suffering from a prolonged illness. He was 73 years old. He  left behind three children.

Dr. Jobe served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to Cuba under the government of former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh. He later resigned from his role as Foreign Minister under the Jammeh regime in protest of the expulsion of a British diplomat without his consent.

As a seasoned diplomat, he joined the United Democratic Party following the downfall of the Jammeh regime in 2017, where he held the position of National Health and Welfare Secretary.

In mourning the seasoned diplomat, the United Democratic Party (UDP) remembered him as a “beacon of integrity and resilience”, who “devoted his life to uplifting others through education, principled leadership, and unyielding advocacy for democracy”.

He is also remembered for playing a pivotal role in mobilising Gambians in the diaspora to restore democracy, culminating in his appointment as Ambassador of The Gambia to France under the Coalition 2016 government.

“His resignation as Foreign Minister, a bold stand against authoritarianism, exemplified his moral fortitude, inspiring countless Gambians to join the fight for freedom. Even in exile, Dr. Sidat Jobe’s resolve never wavered. He became a unifying force, bridging diasporic efforts to dismantle oppression, and later, as Ambassador, he restored dignity to Gambian diplomacy,” the UDP party said.

By Adama Makasuba