Gibba alleged that Senegalese soldiers have been moving through Gambian territory carrying arms and ammunition without public disclosure, insisting that their presence in Foni lies outside the ECOMIG mandate and instead stems from a bilateral arrangement between Banjul and Dakar.
He warned that the dispute is not only about land but also about resources. “It is more than about land, it is also about what resources,” he said, pointing to Senegal’s oil discoveries and questioning whether similar reserves could exist within Gambian territory.
The lawmaker criticised what he described as inadequate preparedness by Gambian security institutions, recalling that he had previously challenged the Defence Minister in Parliament over an alleged arrangement preventing Gambian soldiers from wearing uniforms or carrying weapons at a checkpoint in Dar Salam. “If they succeed, even the school, the hospital, the immigration post and the customs post in Dar Salam will all be taken,” he warned.
Despite his concerns, Gibba maintained that diplomacy remains the best solution, noting that local leaders across the border insist there is no conflict between communities. Yet he cautioned against complacency, urging authorities to put national interest above politics.
“If leadership are not serious,” he said, “we will have a small Gambia that we regret for the rest of our lives.”
