OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Hon. Dr Mamadou Tangara

He was appointed Minister in 2018, a position he previously held from 2010 to 2012. A consummate diplomat, Dr. Tangara also served as a distinguished member of the Gambian Foreign Service, in his capacity as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of The Gambia to the United Nations in New York. He is reputed for the crucial role played in getting The Gambia back to comity of nations as PR and as Foreign Minister from 2017 to date. He also served as Minister of Higher Education, Research Science and Technology.

Professional Positions

Dr. Tangara has had an extensive professional career. He served as Coordinator, National Authorising Office Support Unit (NAOSU) for the European Development Fund (EDF) projects and programmes implemented in The Gambia. He also consulted for the United Nations Fund for Population Affairs (UNFPA) and other International Organisations. Dr. Tangara was also Focal Person for Unesco Science and Technology and Innovation in The Gambia and served as Governor for Africa Capacity Building Foundation. His professional career in academia includes, International Examiner and Researcher. He is also an Interpreter, trained journalist, a Demographer, Lecturer etc.

Educational Background

H.E. Dr. Mamadou Tangara holds a Doctorate degree (PhD) from Université de Limoges, France. His research on the myths and secret of oral historians of the Manding received Mention Très Honorable avec Félicitations a l’unanimité du Jury from the Universite de Limoges. He holds two Master’s degrees in Comparative Literature and Demography.

Dr. Tangara attended Several conferences, research seminars and study tours in London (SOAS, Commonwealth Institute), Paris (INALCO, BNF), Bordeaux (Université Victor Segalen), Aix-en- Provence (Archives d'Outre-mer), Amiens (Université de Picardie), Chambery (ISOLA Conference), Leiden University (Holland), Bayreuth University (Germany), Université de Ouagadougou, IFAN-UCAD, Tamanrasset (Algeria), INEP (Guinea-Bissau), Kela, Kangaba, Barazan (Mali), RDD (The Gambia), Peacebuilding Commission (New York - USA, Seoul - Republic of Korea and Addis Ababa - Ethiopia).

Languages

Dr. Tangara is a multilinguist, fluent in English, French, Spanish, Mandinka, Wolof, Bambara, Dioula, Krio etc. This made him effective and responsible in a multi-cultural world as well as in various academic and journalistic positions.

Awards

Dr. Tangara is the laureate of the most prestigious Award of the United Nations, the UNFPA 2019 United Nations Population Award, (Individual Category). He was awarded at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 20th June 2019 in recognition of his courage and leadership through the use of diplomacy both in the global and national arena respectively.

Dr. Tangara was conferred the Insignia of Member of the National Order of the Republic of The Gambia (MRG). He is a recipient of Medallion of Limousin Region and the city of Bellac in France in recognition of his humanitarian work. Dr. Tangara was conferred prestigious accolades both within and outside The Gambia in recognition of his tremendous hard work and commitment to human development.