This came after the government of the Gambia publicly announced that it will be closing the High Commission in Kuala Lumpur due to financial constraints also downsizing diplomatic services for effectiveness in operational costs.

“The reason being, we strongly believed that closing the embassy will cause unreasonable detriments to many students and all other Gambians living in the region. The mission is centered in a strategic location and it is of great significance to the government and more importantly, to the citizens living in Southeast Asia,” the statement reads.

They said this is mission that every Gambian embraced when they are plunged into trials and tribulations, “We have undoubtedly recognized the services that the mission is rendering to. “We want to assure the government that, if this mission was of no use to us and the Gambia at large, we would have not wasted our time, ink, and energy to write this letter to the ministry and plead. Part of the responsibilities of a mission is to represent its subject and fight for the interest of a sending state,”

The mission in Kuala Lumpur has live to that expectation especially when it comes to running the day to day affairs of the government and the citizens in Southeast Asia. The mission fulfills its duties by helping Gambian citizens in Southeast Asia with immigration issues, passport renewal, provision of marital certificate, recommendation or attestation letters, reaching out to Gambian students in their various universities, helping their subject in emergency occurrences such as natural death and many other things.

The closure of this mission can be catastrophic and devastating.

By: Awa Macalo