Gambiaj.com – (Sare Sofi, The Gambia) – A high-powered delegation led by Central River Region (CRR) Governor Ousman Bah on Monday visited Sare Sofi and Gabou Farama villages to mediate a longstanding dispute over pastureland that has threatened to disrupt relations between the two communities.
The team, which included Regional Police Commissioner Jawara Demba, Police Intervention Unit (PIU) Commissioner ACP Babucarr Cham, State Intelligence Service (SIS) Directors Amie Ndong and Sidat Touray, Upper Fulladu District Chief Ali Modou Touray, and ACP Sidia Kujabi, held meetings with the Alkalos of the two villages in a bid to ease tensions and promote mutual understanding.
During discussions, Sireh Sey of Sare Sofi and Yerrow Jamanka of Gabou Farama recalled decades of peaceful coexistence and referenced previous agreements that had clearly demarcated grazing land boundaries, using natural markers such as a prominent baobab tree.
However, tensions began to mount when a section of the land near the grazing area was allocated for the construction of a football field.
According to both village leaders, this has led to disputes over cattle encroachment during football matches, sparking renewed friction and confusion about the land’s intended use.
Governor Bah, while reaffirming the region’s preference for peaceful resolution, made it clear that the rule of law would be enforced if diplomacy failed.
“The government prefers dialogue, but if dialogue fails, the law will take its course,” he warned, urging both sides to avoid actions that could escalate the situation.
CRR Police Commissioner Jawara Demba clarified that the objective of the visit was not to redraw land boundaries but to protect the designated grazing area from further encroachment. He emphasized that any expansion of farming into the grazing zone would be met with legal consequences.
As a preventive measure, Commissioner Demba announced that a joint security and administrative team will soon be deployed to peg and visibly demarcate the grazing area to prevent future disputes.
In his concluding remarks, Governor Bah appealed to local leaders to preserve the football field if possible but insisted that this must not come at the cost of vital grazing grounds essential for the communities’ livestock-based livelihoods.
The intervention marks a significant step by regional authorities to address rural land-use tensions through community engagement, mediation, and preventive enforcement.
