Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – In a bid to curtail the differences hampering the bilateral relations between Senegal and The Gambia, Vice-President Mohamed B.S. Jallow, accompanied by a high-profile delegation from Banjul, had a working session with Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on Monday.

Mohamed B.S. Jallow, was received in the afternoon at the Presidential Palace by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, marking the beginning of his two-day working visit to Senegal. Gambian diplomats say the working visit renewed commitment to cooperation between the two West African nations.

Addressing the media in Dakar, Vice-President Jallow expressed his delight and optimism for the future of Senegal-Gambia relations. “We are very pleased to be welcomed today by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. We congratulate him and wish him success in his new missions,” he stated.

Prime Minister Sonko reciprocated the sentiments, highlighting the importance of their alliance. “These links are important to us because we are in a very clear and very firm line, an irrevocable vocation that is a pan-African line. This is extremely important to us,” he remarked.

Beyond the diplomatic elegance, a range of pressing issues are at stake

The day’s events included a formal reception, a working meeting, and a final declaration, all underscoring the mutual desire to elevate the relationship between Senegal and The Gambia. The discussions touched on several critical areas of cooperation, including environmental preservation, security, energy, fisheries, and defense.

“Whether it is the preservation of forests, especially the Casamance forests; security issues with illicit trafficking; issues related to energy, which is the essential matter for building all development; fisheries; or defense and training issues, both on military and civilian issues; we were able to see how convergent we were,” said Prime Minister Sonko. He also emphasized the importance of the revived Senegal-Gambia permanent secretariat in addressing these matters.

The reinvigoration of the permanent secretariat is a significant step towards ensuring the effective implementation of joint initiatives. Both leaders acknowledged past shortcomings in the institutional framework and committed to overcoming these challenges. “Obviously, we have noted the shortcomings of the institutional framework, which has been somewhat neglected in recent years, in particular the permanent secretariat, which is responsible for the materialization, monitoring, and implementation of measures, financial delays in contributions, and many other points that we have been able to review and on which decisions have been taken. And we will refer it to the two heads of state and continue the work as we promised ourselves,” Sonko explained.

Vice-President Jallow reiterated The Gambia’s dedication to fostering a robust partnership that would benefit both countries and contribute to regional stability. “Prime Minister Sonko also told us about the problems faced by carriers at the Senegal-Gambia border. I was not yet aware of the latest news, but we have promised to do everything we can to find a solution to this issue,” Jallow assured.

The Gambian delegation included key ministers from the sectors of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Fisheries, and the Coordinator of the Millennium Challenge. Their presence signifies a commitment to infusing new energy into these critical areas of cooperation under the Senegal-Gambia partnership.

The visit marks a pivotal moment in the relationship between Senegal and The Gambia, underscoring a shared vision of unity, cooperation, and mutual development. As both nations move forward, the strengthened ties promise to bring significant benefits to their citizens and enhance stability in the region.