AP – BANJUL, Gambia — Gambia’s government says it is cutting off economic, political and social ties with Iran.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a Monday statement gave Iranian government officials 48 hours to leave the West African country.
The ministry’s statement did not say why relations with Iran are being severed. Iran’s ambassador to Gambia offered no explanation and said the news was a “surprise.”
Habib Jarra, permanent secretary at Gambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Tuesday the decision did not have to do with Nigeria’s recent seizure of arms sent from Iran and allegedly destined for Gambia.
Gambia, a former British colony, is a tiny sliver of land surrounded on three sides by Senegal. Gambian President Yahya Jammeh grabbed power in a 1994 coup.
