By Ibrahima Dione
Traffic has resumed at the border between Senegal and Gambia.
Senegalese trucks were stuck at the border for weeks as a result of a row over transport regulations, prompting a trip to Dakar last week by Gambia’s vice-president Momodou Jallow.
However, Malick Ndiaye, Minister of Infrastructure, Land and Air Transport, and his colleague from Industry and Trade, Serigne Guèye Diop, obtained on Tuesday, August 13 from their Gambian counterparts, Ebrima Sillah and Baboucar Ousmaila Joof, the free passage with beacon for 353 Senegalese trucks.
These long vehicles were stranded as negotiations got underway to resolve the issues which had caused a gridlock along their common border.
The solution to the problem followed a working meeting, held Tuesday in The Gambia, by the authorities of the two countries.
“Gambia has applied a beacon rate of 16,000 CFA francs (US$26) in both directions of the border. This beacon is a tax to control Senegalese trucks on transit. Gambia will soon publish the list of all products exempt from this tax,” states a press release seen by APA.
“Even if the beacon will remain until the tariff is harmonised, with the upcoming introduction of this beacon by Senegal, other taxes, such as visa fees and other hassles at checkpoints have been lifted. From now on, Senegalese trucks will only pay the fees related to the beacon and the bridge fees,” added the statement.
Although The Gambia has a small maritime coastline, much of it is landlocked by Senegal.
Leaving Dakar, the capital, to reach the southern part of the land of Teranga (hospitality, in Wolof), the passage through the former British colony saves a lot of time. This is why the route is kept very busy.
Under the recent agreements, the document underlines, “all vehicles, whether Senegalese or Gambian, will pay the same fare, in FCFA or dalasi, at the Senegambia Bridge (which spans the Gambia River at Farafenni, Editor’s note). The Gambian authorities will regularly publicise the fees for public consumption.”
The border crossing fare has been revised downwards for Dakar Dem Dikk buses (DDD), the Senegalese national public transport company and those of its counterpart in The Gambia.
“Instead of paying 110,000 CFA francs, they will now pay 63,000 CFA francs,” the authorities of the two
countries decided.
As for the insurance certificate issued by Senegal, it goes from 10 to 30 days for the same price, 5,000 CFA francs (US$8), to the great delight of Gambian transporters.
In addition, Gambian trucks transiting Senegal and bound for Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Mali will only pay escort fees at the point of entry.
A framework for consultation between Senegal and Gambia, according to the press release, should make it possible to conclude “other agreements aimed at facilitating the movement of peoples and goods” for better integration.
“We are two countries, but one people. The proof is that we do not communicate in French or English, but rather in Wolof,” declared Malick Ndiaye.
Gora Khouma, representating Senegalese transporters, welcomed the major role played by the supervisory
authority in resolving the situation.
“This is the first time that a minister has traveled to The Gambia to plead our cause” he said happily.
ID/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA