Gambiaj.com – (JATTALEH, The Gambia) – Authorities from Senegal and The Gambia met yesterday at the contentious border area between Kanouma (Senegal) and Jattaleh, a village located in the Central River Region of The Gambia, in a bid to defuse rising tensions and clarify the boundary line that separates the two countries.
The meeting brought together the governors of Tambacounda and the Central River region, alongside traditional leaders, religious figures, security officials, and cartography experts.
The bilateral discussions followed a recent dispute sparked by a confrontation between a Senegalese forest guard and a Gambian timber logger.
The incident quickly escalated into a broader community-level disagreement, prompting intervention from both national governments.
During the meeting, both sides reached several key agreements designed to maintain peace while longer-term solutions are pursued.
These include allowing local residents on both sides to continue using the disputed zone pending scientific mapping by subcommittees tasked with demarcating the border.
In addition, a follow-up meeting is scheduled for Thursday, where ten-member teams from each country—comprising mayors, sub-prefects, land commission presidents, and village chiefs—will jointly chart the livestock routes in the area.
Despite the latest flare-up, officials from both nations reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful resolution, emphasizing the need to preserve the longstanding good neighborly relations between Senegal and The Gambia.
Underlying Causes of Recurring Border Disputes
This is not the first time a border-related incident has strained relations between communities on either side of the Senegal-Gambia divide.
In regions such as Casamance in southern Senegal and adjacent Gambian villages like Darsilami, unresolved colonial-era demarcation issues continue to cause friction.
Livelihood activities like logging, farming, and herding, which often occur near or across unmarked boundaries, frequently lead to confrontations among citizens and enforcement agents.
Though both governments have created National Border Management Commissions and launched joint demarcation efforts with the support of technical experts, the process remains incomplete in several areas, allowing disputes to resurface repeatedly.
As such, the latest talks signal cautious optimism. But until a clear and jointly recognized border is officially established, such community-level tensions may continue to test the limits of bilateral cooperation.
