Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Gambian farmers affected by the recent border dispute with Senegal are still waiting to regain access to their farmlands, despite assurances from both countries that mechanisms have been agreed to allow farming activities to resume.
Foreign Affairs Minister Sering Modou Njie said the issue was discussed during recent engagements between Banjul and Dakar following tensions along the border that have disrupted farming activities for communities on both sides.
The dispute came to a head on July 16, when Senegalese forces were reported to have demolished part of the perimeter fence of a Gambian military installation at Bullock in Foni.
The Gambian government described the action as “profoundly provocative and totally unacceptable” but maintained that it was committed to resolving the dispute through dialogue and existing bilateral mechanisms.
Farmers Caught in the Dispute
Speaking on West Coast radio’s Coffee Time, Minister Njie said the border tensions had also affected Gambian farmers who traditionally cultivate land on the Senegalese side of the border.
He said President Adama Barrow had instructed the Gambian side to exercise maximum restraint and pursue diplomatic engagement rather than allow the situation to escalate.
According to the minister, the two governments subsequently held consultations involving their foreign ministries and technical officials. The two national boundary commissions were then brought into the process to address the outstanding issues.
“The two national boundary commissions must converge in Banjul,” Njie said.
He explained that the commissions had since met and that the remaining issue was to put in place arrangements that would allow farmers from both countries to regain access to their fields.
Farmers Await Concrete Action
Njie said the mechanism agreed by the two sides should allow both Gambian and Senegalese farmers to return to their farmlands.
But with the farming season already underway, farmers remain concerned about how long the restrictions will continue. Any prolonged loss of access could have serious consequences for households that depend on their traditional farmlands for food and income.
The minister said the matter “should be resolved by now” but did not give a specific date for when farmers would regain unrestricted access.
The situation highlights the immediate impact that border tensions can have on communities whose livelihoods have long crossed the formal boundary between The Gambia and Senegal.
Although Banjul and Dakar have repeatedly stressed their close ties and commitment to cooperation, affected farmers are now waiting for the diplomatic arrangements to translate into concrete action that will allow them to return to their fields.
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