President Alhajie Dr Yahya Jammeh has become the latest among world leaders to have sent a congratulatory message to Barack Obama, after being declared winner in the just ended historic presidential contest in the United States. In a letter addressed to Mr Obama, The Gambian leader expressed his "heartiest congratulations." Bellow is the full text of the message.

As we celebrate together this great historic event that heralds the dawn of a new and positive world, allow me to convey on behalf of the government and people of The Gambia and on my own behalf, our heartiest congratulations and sincere best wishes following your landslide victory in the 2008 historic elections.

Indeed, while I followed the campaign with keen interest, your election to the Oval Office carries with it the hope that at last we can hope for a better and more peaceful world for our children and grand children.  We in The Gambia recognise the merits of your ideology and the high intelligence, the message of peace and the maturity that you displayed during the entire process.

The majority of people the world over place high hopes in your leadership to bring fundamental changes that would not only bring peace and security to the world but that the United States of America would be the champion of peace and love for humanity.

As an African-American, we in The Gambia cannot dissociate our thinking from the idea that, yes, "an illustrious son of Africa" is re-writing history as the "First Ever Black Man" to ascend to the highest office in the United States of America and by extension become the first Blackman to become the most powerful man in the world at the beginning of the 21st century.

As we join in to celebrate with you, we also offer our prayers to the Almighty God, to continue to protect and guide you at all times in the execution of your noble duties.  As you already know, the road ahead will not be smooth.

We repose our trust in you and on your leadership to bring the much desired change not only in your great country but also worldwide, in collaboration with world leaders to usher in a new world devoid of conflict, violence, hate and racism.

Mr. President- elect, you have not only made history but you have inspired the new and younger generation of humanity and strengthened their belief that in diversity we can wok together to bring peace and prosperity to humanity in a multiracial and multicultural world.

Please accept, Mr. President-elect, the assurances of my highest consideration and fraternal esteem.