Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy and three others have been reappointed to Cabinet. This was disclosed in a press release issued Friday by the Office of the President. According to the release, Mambury Njie, Ousman Sonko, and Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie have been appointed ministers of Finance and Economic Affairs; Interior; and Tourism and Culture, respectively.

The release reads:

His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh, acting under the provisions of Section 70(1), 70(3), 71(1) and 71(3) respectively, of the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia has effected the following Cabinet appointments with effect from Friday, 3rd February 2012:

1. Mrs. Isatou Njie-Saidy as Vice President and Minister of Women’s Affairs;

2. Mr. Mambury Njie as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs;

3. Ousman Sonko as Minister of Interior;

4. Fatou Mass Jobe Njie as Minister of Tourism and Culture. The release ends.

Background

Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy has spent 15 years in Cabinet. Her first Cabinet appointment was in July 1996 as Minister of Health, Social Welfare and Women’s Affairs. On the 20th March 1997, she was appointed as Vice President and Secretary of State for Health, Social Welfare and Women’s Affairs. She held the portfolio of Minister of Health and Social Welfare for two years. Dr Njie-Saidy has been in the VP post from 1997 up to date.

Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie a seasoned banker was first appointed Minister of Tourism and Culture in February 2010. Ousman Sonko, a former military officer and one-time Inspector General of Police, joined the Cabinet in 2007 as Minister of Interior, the position he held until his recent reappointment.

Mambury Njie was appointed as Minister of Economic Planning and Industrial Development on 21st July 2010. He was later re-assigned to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs as Minister, the position he held until his reappointment.