Senegal-Gambia Committed to Pledges Despite Mêlée

The sisterly neighboring republics of Senegal and The Gambia promised to move ahead with plans to revive the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat, despite a recent melee.

According to a communiqué released at the end of Gambia’s foreign minister Momodou Tangara’s day long working visit to Senegal at the invitation of his Senegalese counterpart, Madicke Niang, both countries pledge to make every effort towards the establishment of the secretariat by end of February 2011,".

Divided by colonial legacy – the borders and official languages - Senegal and The Gambia share the same cultural values, but their relation has been marred with accusations and counter-accusations of being a threat to each other’s peace.

At independence the two countries set-up a permanent secretariat to coordinate their bilateral engagements. This was however scrapped following the formation of a confederation in 1982. This new dispensation was short-lived.

The promise to revive the secretariat was among a series of commitments both nations made last year when President Wade undertook a two-day working visit to The Gambia.

However, the seizure of the alleged Gambia-bound controversial arms shipment in Nigeria from Iran have sent shock waves across the globe, resulting to the apparent thawing of ties once again between the two countries.

Reacting to mounting allegations in Senegal linking The Gambia to the arms shipment, Gambian authorities accused President Wade of engaging in a smear campaign against The Gambia, branding him enemy.

And according to the communiqué, Gambian foreign minister Tangara, during his visit, was also received in audience by President Abdoulaye Wade to convey a special message from President Jammeh, but details of the special message are yet to be unveiled.

Meanwhile Wade’s ‘successful’ last year visit also produced the establishment of a Joint Ministerial Commission and Joint Border Committee.

And during the recent meeting, the foreign ministers of both countries expressed satisfaction at the progress being made so far and pledged to pursue efforts aimed at accelerating the implementation of the recommendations of the 5th Joint Ministerial Commission, especially those relating to the establishment of a network of Senegalese and Gambian women entrepreneurs and experience sharing in the areas of hydrocarbons, domestic fuel and renewable energies.

"The two sides also decided to cooperate and work on initiating joint projects in all areas, especially: In the area of Health – to promote experience sharing in the form of twinning, particularly in the health districts located in border areas; Electrification of cross-border areas by power companies and rural electrification agencies of both countries, based on existing funding opportunities at ECOWAS; and Education- With respect to the Consultative Commission, the two Ministers reiterated their commitment to making this institution, a forum for dialogue and consultation to monitor, in the interest of both countries, issues related to their economic and social development," the communiqué states.