Delegation in Dakar for Border Talk?

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)

Lamin Sanyang

28 April 2011

A member of the Senegalese Transport Union and the ‘chef de garage’ of the Karang car park, Monsieur Pap Saine Dianko, informed this reporter that a delegation from the Gambia led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs met the Senegalese Foreign Affairs Minister,Monsieur Madicke Niang in an effort to end the unofficial border closure.

Monsieur Dianko said the Transport Union was invited to the meeting between the Gambian delegation and the government of Senegal. He said the Transport Union made it very clear to them that the way to resolve the problem is to build a bridge at the Yelli Tenda/Bamba Tenda ferry crossing at Farafenni. He said the Senegalese vehicles are all the time having problems at Farafenni and the government has showed no interest in solving the problem.

He said recently, about three Senegalese vehicles encountered problems in the Gambia, adding the drivers were fined and detained for a period of time. He mentioned an incident involving a Senegalese truck that was carrying bags of cement which allegedly fell into the water at Yelli Tenda/Bamba Tenda. He said the incident resulted in a serious push and pull before the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) compensated the truck driver with an amount of 10 million CFA franc. He said “The biggest problem we are facing in the Gambia is the Bamba Tenda/Yelli Tenda ferry crossing at Farafenni.”

He noted that the European Union (EU) is willing to sponsor the project and the two countries will not spend a butut. He said “The government of the Gambia and Senegal are not going to spend a single butut to finance the project but it will be financed by the European Union. It does not mean when the bridge is built the vehicles will not pay. Of course, they will pay.”

Monsieur Dianko said President Wade has no powers to force the Gambia government to allow the building of the bridge and he cannot force the Senegalese Transport Unionist to remove the border blockade. He said the Transport Unionists are responsible for the border blockade and will not stop until their demands are met.

“Let it be known that Abdoulaye Wade has nothing to do with the border blockade and he cannot remove it. The Transport Union of Senegal is the one responsible for the blockade. We want President Yahya Jammeh to allow the European Union (EU) to build the bridge. We are determined to continue the blockade until our demands are met. Gambians and Senegalese are the same people”, said monsieur Dianko.

The officials at the Senegalese border post at Karang were contacted by this reporter, but the Commanding officer was not in the office. The person on duty was Monsieur Amat Joof who told the reporter that the borders are closed. He said the Transport Unionists have imposed a blockade and are not allowing vehicles having Gambian registration number plates to enter Senegal.

The officials at The Gambian border post at Amdallai were contacted by this reporter and the Principal Custom Officer was said to have left for the Kombos with his deputy. The person who was on duty told the reporter that the borders are closed. He said the Gambian borders are not closed, but it is the Senegalese who imposed a blockade.

Many businesses in the Gambia and Senegal are affected by the border blockade. Those who are involved in Trans-border business are the more affected by this problem. There are scarcities of some goods and this resulted in escalation of their prices in the market. The CFA franc also appreciated against the dalasi. The people are calling on the two governments to sit on the table to resolve the problem.

Editor´s Note

A reporter has been sent to Dakar to conduct more investigation into this problem.

AllAfrica – All the Time