Banjul , The Gambia

The government of The Gambia has strongly reacted to the visa procedure of certain countries, saying that Gambian visa applicants have been singled out for finger printing. In what appears to be a retaliatory measure, the Gambia government revealed that it has instructed Gambian missions overseas and other Gambian visa issuing authorities to begin subjecting citizens of the countries concerned to the same treatment.

According to a press release from the Department of State for Foreign Affairs read over GRTS yesterday, it has been brought to the attention of the government that certain countries tend to single out Gambian visa applicants for finger printing and other degrading treatment. This reaction, the release added, is in order to safeguard the dignity of Gambian citizens.

In another development, President Jammeh yesterday assigned the responsibility for Petroleum matters of the Secretary of State for Energy, Hon. Ousman Jammeh, to the Office of the President.