The Gambian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, informed lawmakers that from 2017 to October 2024, the Barrow administration issued a total of 3,030 diplomatic passports. These were granted to individuals such as senior government officials, members of parliament, diplomats, and presidential or government advisers.
Dr. Tangara explained that diplomatic passports are issued based on formal recommendations from institutions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the final approval coming from the Office of the President. Additionally, the president has the authority to grant diplomatic passports to any individual at his discretion.
When asked for the names of individuals who received these passports, Dr. Tangara stated that the immigration department would need to provide the information since they maintain the database.
Addressing questions about individuals holding multiple diplomatic passports, he acknowledged that it is permissible, citing his own case as an example. Dr. Tangara noted that having two passports can be necessary for official travel, especially when one is sent to a foreign mission for visa processing.
He also clarified that the president has the discretion to authorize the issuance of diplomatic passports to any citizen, Gambian or otherwise.
