“He has shown he is crazy but he has met someone crazier than him”; this was a translated statement on Senegalese papers Monday morning. It came on the hills of reports that Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has secretly written to the Senegalese President Macky Sall begging for the two leaders to negotiate on the border closure. This desperate move follows two and half months of border closure between the two inseparable West African nations which share almost everything in common except the official language. Gambian President Yahya Jammeh on his usual provocation raised transportation tariffs to almost 1,000% on Senegalese commercial vehicles that criss crosses the border for transnational trade.
That rate hike triggered a backlash from Senegal who also closed their borders to any commercial vehicles crossing into Banjul. The abrupt irresponsible border closure provoked a swift reaction from the Senegalese transport union backed by the Macky Sall government. Senegal claimed that Jammeh has consistently engineered such unprovoked actions and they have had enough. After filing a complaint at the regional body ECOWAS currently being chaired by the Senegalese President , Jammeh requested the ECOWAS intervention to settle the dispute that he started. It is to be noted that President Jammeh has consistently ignored the authority of the regional economic and political body on Gambia’s violations of rights of its citizens. Two cases both related to press freedom and the killing of Journalist Deyda Hydara, the ECOWAS court ruled against the Jammeh government to investigate Deyda’s killings and to compensate exile journalist Musa Saidykhan who was severely tortured. The Gambia government refused to comply with those orders.
As ECOWAS engages in a thorough investigation of the border closure and what was responsible for it, Gambia’s economic condition worsens and the President is reportedly the most affected since he owns most of the transportation stranded at the Senegalese border. Jammeh initially sent a high powered delegation to meet Senegalese authorities but those were turned down by the Senegalese authorities.
As the situation continue to worsen and Gambia’s economic vulnerability increases the arrogant President Jammeh has reportedly written to the Senegalese President to beg for time to negotiate. In a face book posting by a well respected Senegalese Gambian born journalist Frederic Teneng wrote on his face book page “Three days ago, The Government of Dictator Yahya Jammeh officially wrote a letter to Senegalese authorities, begging for another chance to discuss the languishing border issue. Mankeur Ndiaye, Senegal’s Foreign Minister, made the revelation today in Dakar after he signed a deal to ease the deployment of American troops to Senegal”. This desperate move by Jammeh is seen as a last attempt to safe the Gambian economy from further damage by the border closure. Many pundits stated that they were not surprise by Jammeh’s move as he has always provoked negative actions only to secretly negotiate to ease the tension.
Jammeh is also facing for the first time in 22 years a serious political revolt from opposition supporters who protested in the streets couple of weeks ago demanding electoral reform. Jammeh and his government reacted forcefully and arrested the protesters allegedly torturing some to death and holding many hostage. The leader of the UDP and his party militants have been charged with crimes that are seen as a mockery of the Gambian constitution which guarantees freedom of assembly and speech. Thousands of Gambians have since sporadically hit the streets demanding their leaders be released and the bodies of those alleged to have been killed to be produced. It is noted that up to 9 protesters have not been produced in court and their whereabouts are unknown as well. Jammeh and his regime has employed torture tactics and citizens have died while in custody in the hands of the regime.
As we go to Press Senegal is said to be weighing their options on the border closure and Jammeh’s request for a meeting of the leaders. Senegal also reportedly signed a joint military agreement with the United States during this crisis. This is seen as a positive step especially as the West African region increasingly experienced terrorist attacks. A joint military agreement with the US allows US security personnel to conduct raids and deploy intelligent forces within the territory of that nation. This agreement is also seen to be a signal to Gambia government that with such an agreement Senegal and the US could stand ready to help address any political unrest in Gambia that goes out of control. So the International community is closely watching the political and regional tension in the Gambia.