By Binta Jaiteh
Last week, the National Assembly asked Vice President Muhammed Jallow to explain his visit to Senegal and present the results of the meeting before the House.
Banjul Central MP Hon Abdoulie Njai made this request to the Deputy Speaker during the question and answer session with ministers.
Responding to the question, the Vice President informed the members that his visit was aimed at strengthening the existing relations between the two countries and addressing challenges related to the implementation of bilateral agreements between the two nations.
He stressed that the meeting focused on defense and security, fisheries, the Senegalese-Gambian Permanent Secretariat, the Millennium Challenges compact, as well as the economic, trade and investment forum.
He said the outcomes of the visit include agreements to implement bilateral agreements through the Senegalese-Gambian Permanent Secretariat, the institutionalization of an economic, trade and investment forum, and the incorporation of The Gambia into the proposed regional compact that Senegal is undertaking under the Millennium Challenge Corporation. In addition, cooperation in fisheries for capacity building and laboratory services, security cooperation for capacity building in joint border patrol, and the strengthening of the Joint Military Committee and the Joint Military Defense and Security Committee.
MP Hon Njai then asked him what specific achievements he had achieved in defence and security, saying it was common knowledge that the country had border challenges with its neighbours. “What were the progressive measures that came out of the meeting?” he asked.
“We have border issues in Gambia and Senegal, that is one of the reasons for the existence of the Senegalese-Gambian Permanent Secretariat, because it is the body charged by the two countries to manage the borders,” said Vice President Jallow.
He added that in terms of defense, there is a joint border patrol to prevent any intrusion from either side of the borders.
The Banjul North MP informed the Deputy Speaker that some of the intrusions include illegal trafficking of rosewood and that most of the time, settlements are established on the Senegalese side, saying that many Gambians complain about the illegal presence of troops in The Gambia without any legal action being taken.
The Vice President responded that regarding rosewood, the position of the government and security is clear: we do not allow anyone to engage in this activity.
Brikama South MP Lamin J. Sanneh said the Vice President’s visit was aimed at covering the border crisis affecting various parts of the country, and therefore asked if border demarcation was part of the achievements.
Vice President Jallow again responded that the issue of boundary delimitation was a responsibility entrusted to the Senegalese-Gambian Permanent Secretariat.
“I think this discussion has been going on for a long time,” he added.
The Member of Parliament for Busumbala Constituency, Hon Muhammed Kanteh has demanded a full explanation on the hot pursuit agreement between The Gambia and Senegal.
According to the Vice President, the discussion also touched on the hot pursuit agreement, during which Senegal and Gambia expressed their concerns.
One of the problems, he said, is the implementation of this hot pursuit agreement, which states that if a person commits a crime, a country can pursue that person for a distance of 5 kilometers. “After those 5 kilometers, the security of the other side can take over the case. What has happened is that sometimes when the Senegalese pursue, they do not inform the Gambian authorities.”
He added that this was part of the problem and that according to the agreement they are supposed to inform the Gambian government before prosecuting anyone.
However, he said he hoped some of these issues would be resolved under the agreement.
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