The Gambian authorities Friday accused members of the Senegalese Armed Forces of destroying parts of the fence surrounding a military installation at the Bulock border post.
While describing the incident as “deeply provocative” and “totally unacceptable,” Banjul maintains it is prioritising diplomatic channels.
At this stage, the Senegalese authorities have not yet reacted publicly.
The Gambian government denounced the incident that occurred Thursday at the Bulock military border post in the West Coast region, accusing Senegalese soldiers of demolishing a fence of a Gambian military post without prior consultation.
In a statement released Friday by government spokesperson and presidential advisor on diaspora affairs, Ebrima G. Sankareh, the Gambian authorities described the act as “deeply provocative” and “totally unacceptable.”
According to the statement, a section of the fence surrounding a Gambian Armed Forces installation was destroyed “without prior consultation” and outside the long-standing bilateral military and diplomatic mechanisms governing cooperation between the two countries.
Despite the seriousness of the reported incident, Banjul maintains that it prioritises a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
The government indicates that formal diplomatic engagement with the Senegalese authorities is already underway and that the matter will be examined within the framework of the Joint Military Committee as well
as other existing bilateral mechanisms.
The Gambian authorities assert that the security situation remains “calm and completely under control,” praising the professionalism and restraint of the Armed Forces of the Gambia, which they say prevented any escalation.
The government reiterates that The Gambia and Senegal have maintained close cooperative relations for several decades.
The leaders of the two countries recently reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in defense,
security, trade, border management, and economic development.
Banjul further calls on the Senegalese Armed Forces to exercise maximum restraint and ensure that any issue related to the shared border is addressed exclusively within the framework of established bilateral mechanisms, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both states.
At the time of publication, the Senegalese authorities, including the armed forces, had not officially responded to the accusations by the Gambian government.
AC/Sf/fss/as/APA