The Sovereign Military Order of Malta announces the opening of bilateral diplomatic relations with the Republic of The Gambia. During a meeting yesterday at the United Nations headquarters in New York – where the United Nations General Assembly is underway – the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, and The Gambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mamadou Tangara, signed the protocol for the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The meeting in New York, took place just a few weeks after the signing in Rome in the Magistral Palace on 23 August of the Declaration of Intent between the Order of Malta and The Gambia.

Diplomatic relations will provide a framework for the Order of Malta to develop medical and social projects in the African country.

With The Gambia the number of States with which the Sovereign Military Order of Malta maintains bilateral diplomatic relations rises to 113. These include 37 states on the African continent alone.