The
relationship between The Gambia and Senegal is to take a new dimension as
president-elect Adama Barrow said the former French colony would be his
government’s number one friend.
In
an interview with the Senegalese media, TFM, President-elect Barrow reiterated
that The Gambia, under his rule, will unite and be a friend to all countries,
“but the country that will be our number one friend is Senegal”.
The
Gambia is surrounded by Senegal on all the sides, except the Atlantic Ocean and
the two countries share almost everything: social, cultural, religious ties and
ethnic groups. However, the political relationship
between the sisterly counties has been thorny for the past two decades.
Barrow,
who defeated incumbent president Yahya Jammeh at last Thursday’s presidential
election, noted that Senegal is closest to The Gambia, and “a close friend is
more important to us than a far friend”.
He
said the rejuvenated friendship will benefit both countries, because any
benefit that comes to Senegal will reach The Gambia and vice versa.
The
president-elect said when the result of the election was announced, the Senegalese
president, Macky Sall, was the first president to call and congratulate him.
“During
our conversation, President Sall asked whether I can speak Fula and I told him,
yes; my mother is a Fula,” Barrow said, adding that their conversation later
continued in the Fula language.
He
said he would first visit Senegal after taking over, to discuss with President
Sall and the Senegalese government.
He
said Sall is more experienced than him since he (Barrow) is new and, as such,
he would learn from his Senegalese counterpart.
Barrow
said shortly before starting his campaign, he was in Senegal to see the Mouride
Kalipha, Serigne Sidi Moctar MBacke, to seek prayers from him, and he promised
to visit the Kalipha after the election.
He
said the Kalipha had interest in his candidature, and even instructed his
protocol to call him during the campaign period to enquire how things were
going. The Kalipha also sent people to
come and observe the election.
Social
media weapon
Speaking
on the election, president-elect said Gambians wanted the opposition to unite,
for that was the only way to remove the incumbent.
As
a result, the opposition parties made efforts to come together to form a
coalition, which he was elected to lead.
With
the support of several Gambians, particularly those in the Diaspora, the
campaign begun and it went smoothly.
The
social media, he said, contributed greatly to putting their messages across,
because “in The Gambia as an opposition, you are not given a platform on the
national television”.
“The
social media was our television, showing our programmes and it was through
social media we made our meeting announcements.
Social media has been one of our weapons heading to the election,”
Barrow explained.
He
noted that all the three contestants on the election are 51 years old, but
Gambians chose the coalition.
Now
that election is over and victory is theirs, he said they are working on
setting up the cabinet.
“Before
any government can work effectively, it needs to have its cabinet in
place. So we are setting up our cabinet
and we will select experienced people we have faith in to man various
ministries.”
After
the transition, when the handing over is done, anything that concerns the
government will be looked into, and laws and programmes will be in place to
guide the government.
Here
for all
Asked
about outgoing president Jammeh, Barrow said Jammeh is a Gambian as any other
Gambian and The Gambia is more important than all of them, him and Jammeh.
He
said Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara used to be the president and today, he is no more
the president but he resides in The Gambia.
If Jammeh also wishes to, he can live in the country as a private
citizen.
He
explained that when Jammeh is in the country, if they need any help from him,
they would approach him.
“When
we were coming to contest the election, we didn’t have the intention to fight
or didn’t dislike anyone or say this is what this person has done and we should
pay back.
“This
is not our focus, but when we take over we will investigate what had happened
and, if there is evidence, we will take necessary measures. The government is here to protect all
citizens, but the law will take its course.
The president will not be there to dictate the law, but we will not
compromise on what the law says.”
‘I
am content’
Asked
if he would not change his mind on the three years for which he said he would
hold office, Barrow said it is not easy to believe anyone in terms of
government in Africa, but Allah has helped him in the sense that he is a
contented person.
“Gambia
is what interests me. I will go by the three years that I agreed to rule,” he
said. “We plan to accomplish a task
within three years, and we will work day and night to ensure that we accomplish
that task. In the event we are not able
to complete it, the government to come after me can take over from where we
left off.”
Source:
TFM
