Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to announce that The Gambia will REJOIN the Commonwealth in the coming months
The Gambia had quit the institution back in 2013
BORIS Johnson will today announce The Gambia is coming back to the Commonwealth – led by a President who used to work at Argos.
Launching a two-day visit to Africa, the Foreign Secretary will hail champion Brexit Britain’s links with the continent.
And he will vow to ensure The Gambia comes back into the Commonwealth “in the coming months” after its change of heart.
The Gambia quit the institution headed by the Queen in 2013 – branding it a “neo colonial institution”.
But new President Adama Barrow vowed to reverse the move last year and rip up his predecessor President Jammeh’s plans to turn the tiny west African nation into an Islamic republic.
He added that relations between the country and its former colonial ruler would be transformed under his Government.
Boris Johnson’s visit comes less than a month after Mr Barrow was sworn in amid fears of civil war – after President Jammeh tried to have his election defeat in December overturned.
President Barrow worked as a security guard at catalogue chain Argos and shoe shop Office in England before returning to his homeland, starting up an estate agency and beginning a career in politics.
Speaking last night the Foreign Secretary said: “I’m very pleased that Gambia wants to rejoin the Commonwealth – and we will ensure this happens in the coming months.
“The strength of our partnerships show Global Britain is growing in influence and activity around the world.”
The trip comes 24 hours after The Sun revealed the Foreign Secretary was setting up a £700 million overseas aid fund to spread Britain’s influence around the world – and shore up allies against the “might of the tyrant”.
Today’s move is a huge boost for the Commonwealth – which has been swamped by controversy over the organisation’s secretariat Baroness Scotland.
The Labour peer was blasted last year after a series of embarrassing expenses revelations.
The Commonwealth dates back to 1931 but developed its modern shape after the war – when former British colonies and protectorates started to move towards independence.
Cameroon and Mozambique joined in 1995, followed by Rwanda in 2009. Boris Johnson will move onto Ghana after today’s visit.