In a nationwide Christmas Eve broadcast, President Adama Barrow extended warm greetings to The Gambia’s Christian community. He highlighted the nation’s enduring spirit of religious harmony, resilience amid global challenges, and ongoing developmental strides as 2025 comes to a close.
Addressing fellow Gambians, residents, and friends of the country, President Barrow congratulated Christians in The Gambia and worldwide on the birth of Jesus Christ. He reflected on the universal messages of love, peace, compassion, and service embodied in the holiday, noting that Christmas transcends religion and reminds humanity of shared values such as generosity, forgiveness, hope, and goodwill.
“These principles can contribute to strengthening the fabric of every nation,” the President said, praising The Gambia’s remarkable resilience and unity despite persistent global economic pressures.
Looking back on 2025, Barrow expressed gratitude for steady progress in key sectors. He pointed to expanding infrastructure, a strengthening healthcare system, continual improvements in education access and quality, and more efficient democratic institutions. These achievements, he said, reflect the contributions of all Gambians—from farmers who feed the nation and teachers who educate the youth to healthcare workers and security forces who maintain peace.
The President referenced his recent “Meet the People Tour” as evidence of this national unity, observing firsthand the determination of citizens across regions to overcome challenges.
A central theme of the address was The Gambia’s status as a beacon of religious tolerance in a world often marked by unrest. Barrow celebrated the peaceful coexistence of Christians and Muslims, who live side by side, celebrate each other’s festivals, support one another in need, and even intermarry.
“Every Christmas season, we see Muslim neighbours helping Christian families prepare for the feast, just as Christians join their Muslim neighbours during their celebrations,” he noted. “This is what makes The Gambia unique.”
In contrast to global religious intolerance, Barrow urged Gambians to protect this “precious gift,” teaching children to view religion as a bridge rather than a barrier in pursuit of justice, compassion, and dignity.
Drawing inspiration from Jesus Christ’s life of service to the vulnerable, the President called on all citizens to embrace charity this Christmas: reaching out to those in difficulty, sharing with the needy, visiting the sick and elderly, and extending help to neighbors.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment, Barrow pledged continued efforts to ensure development benefits reach every corner of the country, irrespective of region, ethnicity, or religion. Priorities include improving living standards and creating opportunities for youth and women, aiming for a Gambia where every citizen can fulfill their potential.
He encouraged renewed hope and greater effort to tackle national challenges such as economic development and job creation, invoking the Christmas spirit of sacrifice and solidarity.
Barrow assured the Christian community of protected freedom of worship and appreciation for their contributions in education, healthcare, social services, and moral leadership.
In closing, the President called for reconciliation and renewal, setting aside differences to focus on common bonds of descent, history, and destiny. He prayed for God’s blessings of healing, hope, and prosperity, wishing all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.
