By Assan Bah
Senegal and Gambia have agreed to extend the duration of the Laissez Passers given to vehicles from ten days, to one month.
This was part of their resolutions after an intensive closed-door meeting between high level delegations from The Gambia and Senegal on the recent cross-border trade dispute in Mansakonko in the Lower River Region (LRR), on Tuesday 13th August 2024.
The introduction of a tracking system for transit vehicles by the Gambia government was the source of a cross-border trade dispute which ensued last week when members of the Senegalese transport union staged a protest at the Keur Ayoub / Senoba borders against the newly introduced vehicle tracking system, blocking Gambian vehicles from entering and leaving Senegal.
Giving an update on the outcome of the meeting Dr. Cherno Omar Barry, a member of the Senegalo-Gambia Secretariat, said they have made the various agreements which he said were divided into key sections.
On the border tracking system:
“The Gambia has noted the concerns regarding the tracking system fees between Senoba and Keur Ayoub borders,” Mr. Barry said.
“Meanwhile, it is agreed that the tracking system will continue to remain in place. However, as Senegal is soon to deploy its own tracking system, both relevant authorities will meet and discuss possibilities of harmonising the fees related to the two systems, once this is done.”
He added that as an immediate measure to resolve the tension in Keur Ayoub and Senoba, the Gambian delegation led by Mr. Ebrima Sillah, the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure upon instruction from President Barrow, agreed to release all three-hundred and fifty three trucks from both sides to cross the border without paying the tracker fees, within 24 hours after the meeting.
“These trucks will carry the trackers but they will not have to pay the fee attached, and this has to be expedited within the 24 hours immediately after we disperse here. However, as soon as those trucks are gone, it is considered the tension has been dissolved and therefore, the tracking system continues as it was,’’ he said. He reported that the second agreement was for the trucks in transit through Senegal coming from the Gambia and going to Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry and Mali, is only required to pay escort charges at the point of entry.
“It was understood they pay several charges. However, henceforth, the Senegalese delegation has made it clear that they [transit trucks from the Gambia corridor] will only pay the escort charges at the point of entry. All other charges are considered illegal. They should also insist on being escorted by an officer to the point of exit. They will also not have to pay any exit fee as it was the case when they are leaving.”
Dr. Barry, who chaired the meeting, further reported that the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) will share the list of the goods that will be exempted from tracking with their Senegalese counterparts.
Payment at borders and checkpoints:
“Senegal has extended the Pass Avant / Laissez Passer duration henceforth, from 10 days to one month for the sum of five thousand CFA 5,000, and if one wishes to extend the duration, he or she can do so by paying CFA 8,000 for another 15 days.
“The same charges also apply for vehicles entering the Gambia. Negotiation is ongoing between the two governments to consider the possibility of lifting this payment in the future,” he stated.
According to Barry, it was also agreed during the meeting that goods from both countries are not required to pay any amount of money at exit points. He however said that transit vehicles are exempted from paying any Laissez passer or Pass Avant.
“It could be noted however, that vehicles can be stopped and checked for security reasons and truckers found breaking the law, will be subjected to the full force of the law especially if they are on transit. For the GTSC and Dakar ‘Dem Dik’ buses, the two delegations have reached a consensus to restore the previous tariff for both bus companies, thereby removing the recently introduced tariff,’’ he said; highlighting that part of the agreement on the GTSC and Dakar ‘Dem Dikk’ buses is to accord them office space at the GTSC Banjul office. He said this action has already been implemented and the same will apply for GTSC buses in Dakar.
On the Senegambia Bridge:
He said all vehicles, whether Gambian or Senegalese, will pay the same tariff at the Senegambia Bridge for the same value in either Dalasi or CFA, and said the authorities will paste the fees for it to be visible at designated payment points on a regular basis, for everyone’s attention and will be updated according to the exchange rate.
On ferry boarding:
Priority boarding is to be given to diplomatic, official, excursion and other priority vehicles coming from Senegal, and concluded by saying that discussions are ongoing between the two authorities on other key issues.
