UDP Mourns Death of Veteran Diplomat Dr. Momodou Lamin Sidat Jobe

The United Democratic Party (UDP) has announced the passing of Dr. Momodou Lamin Sidat Jobe, a seasoned diplomat, scholar, and statesman, who died on Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Dakar, Senegal, following a prolonged illness. He was a senior figure within the UDP and a widely respected advocate for democracy and justice.

Dr Momodou Lamin Sidat Jobe died in Dakar earlier on Sunday, 6th April 2025

Dr. Sidat Jobe, whose career spanned academia, international diplomacy, and national governance, is remembered for his integrity and principled leadership, particularly during a turbulent chapter in Gambian history. He was 76.

A former lecturer at the University of Dakar (now Cheikh Anta Diop University), Dr. Jobe served for many years with UNESCO, before returning to The Gambia to join the administration of former President Yahya Jammeh as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

His resignation from that role in protest against the unauthorised expulsion of a British diplomat became a defining moment in his public life. The act earned him widespread admiration and solidified his reputation as a man of principle. He later emerged as a vocal critic of the Jammeh regime and was instrumental in organising opposition efforts from abroad.

Following the democratic transition of 2016, Dr. Jobe was appointed as The Gambia’s Ambassador to France, where he was credited with revitalising the country’s diplomatic standing on the global stage.

The UDP, in a statement, praised Dr. Jobe as “a beacon of integrity and resilience,” calling his contributions to the party and to the country “immeasurable.”

“His courageous resignation from ministerial office was a bold stand against oppression that inspired countless citizens,” the statement read. “Even in exile, Dr. Jobe remained a unifying force, bridging efforts across the diaspora to end dictatorship and restore democratic rule.”

Dr. Jobe was also a key figure in the UDP’s Foreign Affairs Committee, where he worked to strengthen the party’s international engagement and visibility.

Beyond politics, he was a devoted father and mentor. He is survived by three children.

Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course according to the press statement.

“A nation is uplifted by the courage of its people - and Dr. Sidat Jobe was courage personified,” the UDP said in closing the press statement.