The president of the Republic has described Mauritania as one of The Gambia's most reliable allies in this part of Africa.

His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh was speaking to reporters Tuesday at the Banjul International Airport shortly after his return from a two-day state visit to the Islamic Republic. He said: "If you could remember, there was a time when the Mauritanian head of state made his first state visit to The Gambia and in diplomacy, we reciprocate. So we went there in order to reciprocate that visit by His Excellency Abdul Aziz, president of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania as a means of strengthening the bonds of cooperation that exist between the two countries."

He continued: "Mauritania is such a strategic importance to The Gambia and it is prudent that from time to time, we conduct such visits to further strengthen the excellent bilateral cooperation that exists between us." The Gambian leader explained that the visit was also meant to step up efforts to implement the agreements signed between the two countries, as well as avail him the opportunity to assure his Mauritanian counterpart that the two countries will work together to make sure that all the agreements are implemented and not only that, but any area that is of importance to both countries that will bring mutual benefit to the people of the two countries.

He added: "If you remember, the vice president was there not so long ago when we had the Joint Session of the Council of Ministers and we want to make sure that we reciprocate that and assure them that Gambia-Mauritania relation is one of the best in Africa. I can say that Mauritania is one of our most reliable allies in this part of Africa."