Congo's Sassou is an 'excellent advisor' - Gambia's Barrow on first Central Africa trip

Gambian President Adama Barrow has lauded his Congolese counterpart, Denis Sassou Nguesso, describing him as ‘an excellent advisor’ who had a lot of experience to be gleaned from.

Barrow who took over the Gambian presidency three-months ago landed in the Congolese capital Brazzaville on Friday afternoon (April 14, 2017). He was received at the airport by the Congolese president and other top government officials.

This is his first trip to the Central Africa region. Local media portals quoted Barrow as saying the 24-hour visit was a friendly one. ‘‘This visit is a friendly visit, I came to be able to learn from my older brother Denis Sassou-Nguesso, he could also be an excellent advisor.

‘‘It is important for me to meet and learn from his experience,’‘ he further stated. He added that his Congolese counterpart was a man whose political experience should be tapped by all across the continent.

Diplomatic sources indicate that the two leaders will hold talks on bilateral cooperation and trade. The Gambian economy has been marked a crisis-hit following reported widespread looting of public funds by former leader, Yahya Jammeh who is currently in exile in Equatorial Guinea.

The Congolese leader is head of the African Union (AU) efforts aimed at resolving the current security and political impasse in Libya. Sassou-Nguesso has led the Congo Republic for over three decades. He won elections in March last year.