Turkey helps Gambia enhance security before OIC summit

By Mustapha K Darboe

BANJUL, Gambia (AA) - A group of senior Turkish police officers arrived in Gambia Tuesday to help the nation to strengthen its security ahead of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in 2019.

The visiting group of four police officers met Interior Minister Ebrima Mballow and the country’s top security officers.

They will evaluate Gambia’s needs in security field ahead of OIC summit -- slated for November 2019.

Essa Bokar Sy, the public relations head at the OIC secretariat in Gambia, hailed Turkish experience in hosting international events such as G20, saying it is a “valuable asset” in helping Gambia prepare for next year’s summit.

“The Turkish government has stood with Gambia since independence and it is familiar with the region as far as security and diplomatic protocols are concerned,” Sy told Anadolu Agency.

The group is also to visit the conference center -- which is under construction for the summit -- on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the officers will visit the police training school and some border posts. They will also evaluate the operational equipment of Gambian police.

Turkey -- the current head of the OIC -- donated media equipment to Gambia two weeks ago in preparation of the summit.