On Monday 22nd June, 2020 the Minister of Justice for The Gambia moved a Motion for the accession of Gambia to the Banjul Protocol. The Gambia is set to join eleven ARIPO member states in the Banjul Protocol. The Gambia Assembly Select Committee is expected to deliberate on the motion.

Earlier in May of this year, Mozambique acceded to the Banjul Protocol and will be eligible for designation with effect from 15 August 2020.

This means that Applicants will be able to file a single application via ARIPO to seek protection for their trademarks in Botswana, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and now hopefully The Gambia soon!