The
president of The Gambia Transport Union, Omar Ceesay, on Monday announced in a
press conference that a ban has been imposed on all Senegalese commercial
vehicles from entering The Gambia effective 19 February 2020.
This
decision came after so many confrontations with the two countries transport
unions to resolve the differences that have been grappling their commercial
transportation.
Ceesay
says their move was prompted by Senegal’s refusal to respect the ECOWAS
protocol; which promotes free movement of goods and people. He also said the
Senegalese Transport Union has violated the interstate Transport permit
agreement that was signed by the two governments in 2018.
He
said the Senegalese transport union is in violation of the Interstate Transport
Agreement that was reached by the two governments. He added that the current
border crisis amounts to human rights violation.
Ceesay
indicated they have for long been engaging their Senegalese colleagues for
dialogue so that the border issue could be resolved.
However,
it was reported a week back that Senegalese authorities manhandled Star TV’s
cameraman at a Senegalese village in Karang for covering the negotiations
between the two unions.
The
meeting was for the Senegal to allow Gambian buses to enter the city of Dakar,
after Senegalese bold step to stop Gambian buses in Senegalese territory.
However,
the Senegalese decision came after many Senegalese drivers’ resentment of
Gambian buses, saying they have taken their passengers, which reduces their
earnings.
Meanwhile,
it can be recalled that over the past years, Senegalese drivers have been
working within Gambian soils without any restrictions.
