Gambia, Senegal agree to combat illegal timber logging, cross-border crime

14 Mars 2018

Banjul, Gambia, March 14 (Infosplusgabon) -  The presidents of Gambia and Senegal on Tuesday signed a pact on closer security cooperation to allow joint patrols at their borders.

The two countries also signed an agreement on extradition of fugitives and transfer of prisoners.

The communiqué, signed by President Adama Barrow of Gambia and Macky Sall of Senegal, stated that the two countries would “intensify joint border patrols to fight against wood trafficking”.

Though the manner in which these joint patrols would operate would be determined in Dakar in April by both parties, Senegal had long sought Gambia’s cooperation in its fight against rebellion and illegal timber logging in southern Senegal.

Dakar had accused Banjul in the past of refusing to cooperate in its fight against illegal timber logging, much of which ends in Gambia.

Gambia is emerging from over two decades of dictatorship with a volatile security situation while Senegal is also grappling with insecurity in Casamance, southern Senegal, where illegal timber trade is widespread.

President Barrow said the illegal timber trade was not in the interest of both countries and though Gambia would not interfere in the internal affairs of Senegal, it would play its part to ensure that it closed the door to illegal activities.

Senegal, which surrounds Gambia from all sides except the Atlantic Ocean, led the intervention force which helped to oust former ruler Yahya Jammeh. The country still has its security guarding Gambia’s presidency.

The two presidents also signed a number of agreements in the areas of trade, free movement of people across borders, removal of unnecessary custom rules at the borders, joint road projects and education.

President Sall is in Banjul as part of the first ever joint presidential council meeting in Banjul, a year after an agreement was signed to that effect to boost relations between the two countries.

The joint Presidential Council, initiated in March 2017, is a first step towards leaving behind over two decades of rocky relations marked by various diplomatic spats and border closures.

The presidential council is meant to oversee implementation of their joint projects.

"These countries were separated by colonialists... We have to foster closer cooperation for the growth of our both countries," President Sall said at a joint press conference with his host.

“We will take joint responsibility to support our people in the various areas of development to further strengthen our bilateral cooperation and mutual interest.  We are committed to promote democracy for socio-economic development of our people through regular consultative meetings,” President Barrow said.

The two countries agreed to establish an independent observatory on abnormal practices at the border and take measures for exchange of information to address challenges in the areas of export, import, re-export and transit trade.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/AER/GABON 2018

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