President Adama Barrow has declared seven days of national mourning for late Gambian vice-president Badar Alieu Joof who passed away in India.The national mourning period begins on Wednesday and ends next Tuesday during which all flags in The Gambia would be lowered to half masts.

Joof, 66 died of undisclosed causes weeks after he was flown to India for treatment.

President Barrow confirmed news of Joof’s passing with ‘a heavy  heart’ and led Gambians in mourning a skilled and dedicated civil  servant whose professional honesty was beyond reproach.

In government circles, Mr Joof was reputed as an honest and  serious-minded public servant who was celebrated for his eloquence and  lauded for his iron-clad will to serve his country with distinction and  honour.

Joof was appointed vice-president shortly after President Adama  Barrow’s reelection in December 2021 and led what was described as  robust reform initiatives which sought to restructure the civil service  and restore sanity to government business.

Joof, a former teacher at The Gambia College and later permanent  secretary under the Education ministry, was Minister of Higher  Education, Research Science and Technology in President Barrow’s maiden  cabinet shortly after the latter assumed power following his shock  election victory over long-term ruler Yahya Jammeh in 2017.

The top civil servant survived several cabinet reshuffles under  Barrow and eventually became a popular pick for vice-president in 2022.

Shortly afterwards  Joof’s national ratings skyrocketed thanks to his powerfully persuasive  speech exhorting top state officials against mediocrity and corruption  while professing common cause with ordinary citizens that the government  was not only aware of the biting economic hardships blighting their  lives but would act decisively to assuage this plight.  

A Bachelor of Education degree holder from Bristol University, Joof also held a Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of East London and a similar degree in Development Economics from the University of Berth.

Joof also worked in several roles under the World Bank  including as its liaison officer for The Gambia and as an education  specialist based in Dakar, Senegal.